Iran: New defense minister threatens US with 'enormous damage'
Mehrdad Akhlaghi replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed along with Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28 during a U.S.-Israeli offensive.
Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Iran). File photo
Iran's newly appointed defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, began his tenure with a harsh threat against United States, warning it of "enormous damage" if the Trump administration continues its military campaign against the Islamic fundamentalist regime.
Akhlaghi extended his ultimatum to Washington's allies in the Middle East, including Israel.
"People can rest assured that, most likely, they will not dare to attack us," said the Islamist regime's new defense minister after being confirmed by the Iranian Parliament, in remarks reported by AFP.
"If they [the United States and its allies in the Middle East] do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage," he added.
Although he holds no military rank, Akhlaghi has worked at the Ministry of Defense for 42 years and, since 2013, has headed the Iran Defense Industries Organization, the state-owned arms manufacturer.
Akhlaghi replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on a leadership compound on Feb. 28, along with former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders
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