{
  "id": 15392294,
  "title": "Iran's new defence minister issues warning to the US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-new-defence-minister-issues-warning-to-the-us",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T09:59:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/irans-new-defence-minister-issues-warning-us"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Iran’s parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country's new defence minister, according to reports from Al-Monitor, Business Recorder, and The National UAE. Ketabchi, a veteran of the defence industry who previously headed the Aerospace Industries Organisation and the Defence Industries Organisation, received 237 votes in favour and 15 against. He replaces interim leader Majid Ebn Al Reza, who had been serving as caretaker after the death of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in a US-Israeli air strike in February.\n\nMiddle East Eye reports that Ketabchi warned the United States that any further \"miscalculation\" would result in a response from Iran that is both extensive and surprising, noting that regional and global consequences would rest on the US and its allies. He stated that Iran's updated defensive capabilities have altered enemy assessments. The National UAE further notes that Ketabchi warned Washington of readiness to respond to a potential US attack involving the \"Mother of All Bombs.\"\n\nIn his presentation to parliament, Ketabchi pledged to upgrade military capabilities, accelerate technology development, and restructure the ministry, according to The National UAE. He has previously been sanctioned by the US and the UN over alleged involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile programme.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Iranian parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/iranian-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaghi-as-defense-minister",
        "published": "2026-10-18T08:36:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defence, state media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaqi-as-minister-of-defence",
        "published": "2026-10-18T08:37:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaqi-as-minister-of-defence-15392587",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:46:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Iran names new defence minister as he warns US over ‘Mother of All Bombs’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/iran-names-new-defence-minister-as-he-warns-us-over-mother-of-all",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:57:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Iran’s parliament approves new defence minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-new-defence-minister",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:20:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}