Iran appoints new defence minister amid escalating tensions with U.S.

Iran's parliament has chosen Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the nation's new defense minister on Sunday, concluding a period of interim leadership amid ongoing military tensions with the United States and Israel. Akhlaqi is set to replace Majid Ebn al-Reza, who acted as defense minister following the deaths of Aziz Nasirzadeh in February from U.S.-Israeli strikes.

The appointment of Akhlaqi, a seasoned defense industry official, places him in charge of Iran's military production, procurement, and technological advancements at a crucial juncture in the regional conflict. With decades of experience in the defense sector, Akhlaqi oversees aerospace and missile-related activities in Iran. However, he currently faces U.S. and European Union sanctions due to his involvement in the country's defense industry.

In a program submitted to parliament, Akhlaqi detailed plans to rebuild Iran's military-industrial infrastructure, expedite the development of defense technologies, and strengthen collaboration with private-sector companies. He also cautioned Washington against launching additional military operations against Iran, threatening a substantial response to any renewed attacks.

These remarks followed a CNN report claiming the United States had developed strike plans involving the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs." The bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal, could potentially target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump authorized such military actions.

The appointment of Akhlaqi comes as Iran endeavors to bolster its defense capabilities following months of military confrontations and damage to its strategic infrastructure. Akhlaqi's priorities indicate Tehran's intention to accelerate domestic weapons production and reinforce its military-industrial capacity while maintaining a confrontational stance towards Washington.