Iran’s Parliament Approves New Defence Chief
Mehrdad Akhlaqi has been approved by the Iranian parliament on Sunday as the country’s new defence minister following martyrdom of Aziz Nasirzadeh during the recent US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic.
Akhlaqi received 237 votes in favor and 15 against, with no abstentions, out of 277 votes cast during a parliamentary session held via video conference.Lawmakers voted after hearing arguments from supporters and opponents of Akhlaqi and reviewing his plans for the Iranian Defense Ministry.
Akhlaqi replaces Nasirzadeh, who was assassinated in the initial US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February. Majid Ebn al-Reza had served as acting defense minister following Nasirzadeh’s demise.Akhlaqi, a longtime senior defense ministry official, previously headed Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization and has been subject to US sanctions over his involvement in Iran’s missile-related activities.
Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Akhlaqi warned that Iran would deliver a “surprising and extensive” response if the US and Israel launched another attack against the country.“If the American-Zionist enemy once again makes a miscalculation, the response of the Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive,” he said, adding that Washington and its allies would bear responsibility for any regional and international consequences.Akhlaqi also stated that he had been on what he called his enemies’ “assassination list” for 35 years and pledged to further strengthen what Iran calls the “resistance front".
12:35 - 26 مهر 1405
2 بازنشر
4171 بازدید