Pezeshkian introduced Akhlaqi in a letter to Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, asking lawmakers to consider his credentials and proposed plans in accordance with the Parliament’s regulations.
Under the parliamentary rules, the relevant parliamentary commission will review the nominee’s plans before a confidence vote on Akhlaqi is held at the earliest opportunity.
Akhlaqi is a senior official at Iran’s Ministry of Defense and has previously served as head of the Aerospace Industries Organization, among other positions.
The nomination follows the martyrdom of Major General Aziz Nasirzadeh, the former minister of defense, who was assassinated by the US-Israeli enemy in attacks on Tehran at the beginning of the 40-day war of aggression.
Following Nasirzadeh’s martyrdom, Pezeshkian appointed Brigadier General Majid Ebn al-Reza as the caretaker defense minister.