Iran's parliament on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as defense minister, ending months of interim leadership at the ministry and putting a veteran of the country's defense industry in charge of defense production and procurement.

Ketabchi replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who served as interim defense minister after his predecessor, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed in US-Israeli strikes in February.

Ketabchi has spent decades in Iran's defense industry, holding senior positions in its aerospace and missile sectors. He is subject to US and EU sanctions over his work in the country's defense sector.