The 237‑vote endorsement came after the U.S. launched the first strike of the ongoing conflict on Feb 28, killing former defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in a strike on a leadership compound.
Akhlaghi has spent 42 years in the ministry, heading the Defence Industries Organisation since 2013, and was sanctioned by the United Nations in 2007 for alleged missile activity.
Washington has yet to issue a formal response, but senior diplomats say the U.S. will monitor Iran’s rhetoric closely and may tighten sanctions if the threat materialises.
In Tehran, a mother of three who lost a brother in the Feb 28 attack says she fears a new wave of violence and that the country’s future depends on how this standoff plays out.
With the new minister in place, Iran signals its readiness to counter any U.S. escalation, while the international community watches for a diplomatic breakthrough at the upcoming UN Security Council meeting.