Iran gets new Defence Minister 8 months after predecessor killed in US attack

Iranian lawmakers on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country’s new Defence Minister. The veteran defence official replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed on the first day of the war with the United States and Israel on February 28, alongside former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Akhlaghi is under US and EU sanctions over his work in Iran’s defence sector.