Iran appoints veteran defence official amid war, warns US of heavy retaliation

Iran’s newly named defence minister warned the United States and its allies in West Asia of severe retaliation if Washington restarts its military offensive against Tehran. Mehrdad Akhlaghi received a parliamentary vote of confidence on Sunday, securing 237 votes out of 277 cast. He told reporters that any US attack would cause huge damage to the attackers and the region. Lawmakers confirmed his appointment nearly eight months after the U.S.-Israeli strikes that began the current conflict. Akhlaghi said the role comes at a sensitive moment and that protecting the nation requires a clear grasp of the situation and preparation for many possible outcomes. Though he holds no formal military rank, he has spent 42 years in the defence ministry and has run the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation, the state weapons maker, since 2013. He replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in the February 28 strike on a leadership compound that also claimed the life of former supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior commanders. The United Nations added Akhlaghi to its sanctions list in 2007 over alleged nuclear or missile work. ## Context The appointment underscores Iran’s effort to keep its defence leadership stable while the war with the United States continues, and the new minister’s warning signals a possible escalation if diplomatic talks fail.