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Iran\u2019s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as defence minister on Sunday, ending months of interim leadership at the \u200bministry and placing a former defence sector veteran in \u200ccharge of the country\u2019s defence production and procurement apparatus.<\/strong><\/p>\n Akhlaqi replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who took over in an interim capacity after then Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh \u200bwas killed by US-Israeli strikes in February.<\/p>\n Akhlaqi has spent decades \u200bin Iran\u2019s defence industry and has held senior roles \u2060in its aerospace and missile sectors. He is subject to US \u200band EU sanctions over his work in Iran\u2019s defence sector.<\/p>\n In a programme \u200bpresented to lawmakers, Akhlaqi pledged to rebuild the country\u2019s military-industrial infrastructure, accelerate the development of defence technologies and expand cooperation with private-sector companies.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the American enemy \u200bmakes another miscalculation, the response of the valiant Iranian people and \u200bthe fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive,\u201d he said, adding that \u200cTehran \u2060had taken necessary measures to counter the potential use by the US of its \u201cmother of all bombs\u201d against Iran.<\/p>\n CNN reported this week that the US has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43\/B \u200bMassive Ordnance Air \u200bBlast Bomb, also \u2060known as the \u201cmother of all bombs\u201d, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump \u200borders renewed combat operations.<\/p>\n The weapon is the largest non-nuclear \u200bbomb \u2060in the US arsenal.<\/p>\n \u201cThe US President should focus on ensuring his forces are withdrawn safely from our region. If he drops a single bomb, \u2060he \u200bwill have to see how many of \u200bhis troops end up being carried out of the region in a horizontal position,\u201d \u200bAkhlaqi said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n