Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister on Sunday, as the incoming official warned Washington and Israel of a major military response if further attacks were launched against Iran.
According to state broadcaster IRIB, Akhlaqi secured 237 votes in favour and 15 against, with no abstentions, during a parliamentary session conducted by video conference. A total of 277 votes were cast.
Lawmakers approved his appointment after reviewing his proposed plans for the Defence Ministry and hearing arguments from both supporters and opponents.
Akhlaqi succeeds Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Majid Ebn al-Reza had been serving as acting defence minister since Nasirzadeh’s death.
Speaking to reporters following his appointment, Akhlaqi claimed that Iran had developed countermeasures against the possible deployment of the American GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, commonly known as the Mother of All Bombs.
“We have taken the necessary measures to counter such an action and are continuing our work with confidence,” he said.
The newly appointed 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 possibility of American personnel being killed.
He claimed that Iran’s defensive preparations were among the factors discouraging Washington from using the powerful conventional bomb, warning that the consequences would change if American threats were carried out.
Earlier, while addressing parliament ahead of the confirmation vote, Akhlaqi pledged a forceful response to any renewed military action by the United States or Israel.
“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 declared.
He further warned that Washington and its allies would be held responsible for any wider regional or international consequences arising from another attack.
Akhlaqi also claimed that he had appeared on what he described as his adversaries’ “assassination list” for 35 years.
He pledged to strengthen Iran’s military capabilities and expand support for the network of regional allied groups Tehran refers to as the “resistance front.”
His appointment comes amid continuing tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, with the new defence minister signalling that Tehran intends to maintain a confrontational military posture in response to further threats.