Iran names new defense minister after predecessor killed during war with Israel

Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlachi Ketabchi as defense minister on Sunday, ending months of interim leadership at the ministry and placing a former defense sector veteran in charge of the country's defense production and procurement apparatus.

Akhlachi replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who took over in an interim capacity after then Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed by US-Israeli strikes in February.

Akhlachi has spent decades in Iran's defense industry and has held senior roles in its aerospace and missile sectors. He is subject to US and EU sanctions over his work in Iran's defense sector.

In a program presented to lawmakers, Akhlachi pledged to rebuild the country's military-industrial infrastructure, accelerate the development of defense technologies and expand cooperation with private-sector companies.

"If the American enemy makes another miscalculation, the response of the valiant Iranian people and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive," he said, adding that Tehran had taken necessary measures to counter the potential use by the US of its "mother of all bombs" against Iran.

US planning to use MOAB against Iran

CNN reported this week that the US has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs," against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations.

The weapon is one of the largest non-nuclear bombs in the US arsenal.

"The US President should focus on ensuring his forces are withdrawn safely from our region. If he drops a single bomb, he will have to see how many of his troops end up being carried out of the region in a horizontal position," Akhlachi said.