Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the new defence minister on Sunday, ending months of interim leadership.

Ketabchi received 237 votes in favour, 15 against and no abstentions during a video conference session. He replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who served in an interim capacity after Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

The appointee brings 42 years of experience in the defence ministry and related institutions, including senior roles in aerospace and missile sectors and leadership of the state-owned Defence Industries Organisation since 2013. He is subject to US and EU sanctions over his defence work.