Iran's new Defence Minister Akhlaghi threatens 'enormous damage' if U.S. attacks — SkimNews
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- Iran's parliament confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as Defence Minister on October 18, 2026, with 237 votes in favour out of 277 cast, nearly eight months after U.S.-Israeli strikes sparked the conflict.
- Mehrdad Akhlaghi told reporters that the U.S. and its regional allies would "most likely not dare" to attack and would face "enormous damage" if they resumed military operations against Iran.
- Akhlaghi replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on a leadership compound on February 28 alongside former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders.
- The new minister has served in Iran's defence ministry for 42 years and has headed the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation, the state's weapons manufacturer, since 2013, though he holds no military rank.
- The United Nations sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2007 over his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.
Why it matters: The man now running Iran's defence ministry during an active war with Washington replaces a predecessor killed in the opening U.S.-Israeli strike, has run Iran's state weapons manufacturer since 2013, and carries a 2007 UN sanctions designation for alleged nuclear and ballistic missile work — putting a sanctioned, 42-year defence-ministry veteran at the centre of Iran's war logistics.
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