On October 18th, local time, the Iranian Parliament approved Mehdi Ahlaki Kettabchi as Iran's new Defense Minister. According to reports from the Iranian Students' News Agency, Ahlaki spoke at the Iranian Parliament, responding to the threat of the United States using the term "mother of bombs," stating that Iran was prepared to counter such threats.
The Iranian parliament approved the nomination of Ahlami as defense minister with 237 votes in favor and 15 against. He will officially take over from his predecessor, Aziz Nasirzadeh, who died in air strikes in the United States and Israel in February this year.
Iran's new defense minister, Mehdi Ahlami Kettaebachi. Visual China.
Akhlagi worked in the Iranian defense industry for decades, holding senior positions in aerospace and missile programs. He presented his plans to the Iranian parliament after taking office, including expanding Iran's defense industrial production, strengthening military research, and restructuring the Iranian Defense Ministry.
When discussing the threat posed by the United States to Iran, Akhlaki stated: “If the enemy of the United States appears again on a strategic miscalculation, the brave Iranian people will make an astonishing and extensive response.”
Ahlaki added that Iran is ready to deal with the possibility of the United States using the “mother of bombs”. “We have considered the necessary measures to address this issue.” He warned, “The President of the United States should focus on how to ensure the withdrawal of US troops from the region. If he drops the bomb, he will have to see how many US soldiers will be carried out as if they were lying down.”
Ahlaki told the Iranian parliament: “This is also the reason why the United States has not taken such action so far. Of course, if it turns threats from slogans into actions, it will have to face the consequences.”
On the 15th, CNN cited sources from American officials, stating that the U.S. military has developed a new strategy to target Iran. If President Trump orders the resumption of combat operations before or after the midterm elections, the U.S. military may use the GBU-43/B Mass Object Bomb, also known as the "bomb mother," to strike Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
Several sources familiar with military discussions indicated that the GBU-43/B large airburst bomb is the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the United States arsenal. If the U.S. forces use this weapon for the first time in conflicts with Iran, it would signify a significant escalation of the situation.
"Bomber Mother" by Visual China
The Iranian military denied the American threats. According to the Iranian Maheer News Agency, Hossein Mousavi, a spokesman for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard, stated in a statement on the 17th that the US's naming of the most powerful non-nuclear bomb as "Mother Bomb" was "a typical example of a barbaric civilization."
Mu He Bi said: “The future will ultimately belong to those nations that can turn their opponents' biggest threats into daily jokes.”
The acting Defense Minister, Majid Ibn Rabi'a, also warned that the name and size of the bombs are not important. The consequences of U.S. military actions will be directly reflected in America's global position, economy, and elections. Ibn Rabi'a stated that Iran's missile capabilities have changed the strategic landscape, and the United States should recognize Iran's military strength.
