Iran's parliament on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the new Minister of Defense, amidst escalating conflict between Iran and the United States. Akhlaghi brings 42 years of experience within the Ministry of Defense and related organizations, specializing in ballistic missiles, solid fuel propulsion, aerospace technology, and military industrial production. He has led several entities sanctioned by the US and UN, and participated in the development of precision-guided weapons such as the Sejjil and Zolfaghar series ballistic missiles, as well as the Almas missile and Yasin guided bomb. Akhlaghi stated that Iran is prepared to respond to US President Donald Trump's threats of using the "mother of all bombs," and warned the US to consider the manner of its troops' withdrawal from the region.