TEHRAN — Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defense minister on Sunday.Akhlaqi secured 237 votes in favor and 15 against, with no abstentions, during a parliamentary session held via video conference, according to state broadcaster IRIB. A total of 277 votes were cast.Lawmakers approved his appointment after reviewing his proposed plans for the Defense Ministry and hearing arguments from supporters and opponents.Akhlaqi succeeds Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Majid Ebn al-Reza had served as acting defense minister following Nasirzadeh’s death.Speaking to reporters after his appointment, Akhlaqi said Iran had prepared countermeasures against the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” by the United States.”We have taken the necessary measures to counter such an action and are continuing our work with confidence,” he said.The new defense minister also issued a warning to US President Donald Trump, suggesting that any American attack could result in significant military casualties.”If he drops one bomb, he should see how many of his forces he will have to take out of the region horizontally,” Akhlaqi said, apparently referring to the possible deaths of US military personnel.He claimed Iran’s military preparations were among the reasons Washington had refrained from deploying the powerful bomb, warning that the consequences would be different if American threats were carried out.Earlier, addressing lawmakers ahead of the parliamentary vote, Akhlaqi warned that Iran would deliver a “surprising and extensive” response if the United States and Israel launched another attack.”If the American-Zionist enemy once again makes a miscalculation, the response of the Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive,” he said.He added that Washington and its allies would bear responsibility for any regional or international consequences of renewed military action.Akhlaqi also claimed that he had been on what he described as his adversaries’ “assassination list” for 35 years and pledged to strengthen Iran’s network of regional allied groups, which Tehran refers to as the “resistance front.”Outlining his priorities, he said the Defense Ministry would focus on expanding military production across Iran’s industrial network, strengthening research capabilities and restructuring the ministry to address evolving security threats.A longtime senior defense official, Akhlaqi previously headed Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization and has been subject to US sanctions over his involvement in Iran’s missile-related activities.TEHRAN — Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defense minister on Sunday.Akhlaqi secured 237 votes in favor and 15 against, with no abstentions, during a parliamentary session held via video conference, according to state broadcaster IRIB. A total of 277 votes were cast.Lawmakers approved his appointment after reviewing his proposed plans for the Defense Ministry and hearing arguments from supporters and opponents.Akhlaqi succeeds Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Majid Ebn al-Reza had served as acting defense minister following Nasirzadeh’s death.Speaking to reporters after his appointment, Akhlaqi said Iran had prepared countermeasures against the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” by the United States.”We have taken the necessary measures to counter such an action and are continuing our work with confidence,” he said.The new defense minister also issued a warning to US President Donald Trump, suggesting that any American attack could result in significant military casualties.”If he drops one bomb, he should see how many of his forces he will have to take out of the region horizontally,” Akhlaqi said, apparently referring to the possible deaths of US military personnel.He claimed Iran’s military preparations were among the reasons Washington had refrained from deploying the powerful bomb, warning that the consequences would be different if American threats were carried out.Earlier, addressing lawmakers ahead of the parliamentary vote, Akhlaqi warned that Iran would deliver a “surprising and extensive” response if the United States and Israel launched another attack.”If the American-Zionist enemy once again makes a miscalculation, the response of the Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive,” he said.He added that Washington and its allies would bear responsibility for any regional or international consequences of renewed military action.Akhlaqi also claimed that he had been on what he described as his adversaries’ “assassination list” for 35 years and pledged to strengthen Iran’s network of regional allied groups, which Tehran refers to as the “resistance front.”Outlining his priorities, he said the Defense Ministry would focus on expanding military production across Iran’s industrial network, strengthening research capabilities and restructuring the ministry to address evolving security threats.A longtime senior defense official, Akhlaqi previously headed Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization and has been subject to US sanctions over his involvement in Iran’s missile-related activities.
Iran appoints new defense minister
