MEET IRAN NEW DEFENSE CHIEF : A MISSILE VETERAN THREATENING WAR WITH ISRAEL

What happened: Iran's new defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, said weapons manufacturing would move to protected mountain sites and warned Tehran is prepared for military confrontation. Key numbers: Akhlaghi has roughly four decades of experience in Iran's defense sector, with particular experience in ballistic missiles. Why it matters: His remarks suggest a shift in how Iran intends to safeguard its defense industries amid concerns about a possible Israeli-American attack. He warned a US strike would bring retaliation capable of killing American personnel in the region.

Iran's new defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, said weapons manufacturing would move to protected mountain sites and warned Tehran is prepared for military confrontation.

His remarks suggest a shift in how Iran intends to safeguard its defense industries amid concerns about a possible Israeli-American attack. He warned a US strike would bring retaliation capable of killing American personnel in the region.