Iran's New Defence Minister Warns Trump Against Fresh Strikes as Egypt Offers Saudi Arabia Military Support

 

TEHRAN: Iran's parliament on Sunday confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country's new defence minister, and he used his first hours in office to warn US President Donald Trump against launching fresh strikes on the Islamic Republic — declaring Tehran had taken all necessary measures to counter even the "Mother of All Bombs".

The parliamentary vote, in which 237 lawmakers backed his appointment and 15 opposed it out of 277 votes cast, came as Egypt said it was ready to give Saudi Arabia "necessary support" if Riyadh asks for military assistance, widening the regional stakes of the confrontation.

Main News Report

Mehrdad Akhlaghi, a longtime official in Iran's defence industry nominated by President Masoud Pezeshkian on October 5, was confirmed as Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics on Sunday after securing a vote of confidence from the Iranian parliament, according to Iran's state media.

Addressing lawmakers and reporters after the vote, Akhlaghi issued a direct warning to Washington. "If the American enemy commits another miscalculation, the response from the proud Iranian nation and the warriors of Islam will be both surprising and extensive," he said, according to Al Jazeera's live coverage. He added that the regional and global consequences would rest solely upon the United States and its allies.

In remarks reported by Press TV, Akhlaghi said Iran was fully prepared for any American escalation. "We have taken all necessary measures to counter the 'Mother of All Bombs' and are confident in our preparations. We are carrying out our duties with complete confidence," he said. He warned Trump to "focus on getting his forces out of the region safely", adding: "If he drops a bomb, he should consider how many of his troops might have to be carried out in body bags."

His remarks follow reports that Trump has discussed striking Iran's heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility with the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the "Mother of All Bombs", according to Indian media reports citing the discussions.

Background Context

The appointment fills a post left vacant since Iran's previous defence minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed on the first day of the US-Israeli attacks, according to Times Now. The war began on February 28, when coordinated US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran's leadership and infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders, as reported by The News.

The confrontation escalated sharply on Saturday, October 17. Saudi Arabia intercepted drones and ballistic missiles, while the United States and Britain issued travel warnings following attacks on Saudi airports, Gulf News reported in its live coverage. Tehran reported tankers on fire in the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most important oil shipping lane.

Pakistan has a direct stake in the crisis: Islamabad mediated the ceasefire announced in April and the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June between Washington and Tehran, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif endorsing the agreement as mediator, as reported by The News. The two sides have since resumed strikes, accusing each other of violations.

Reactions and Statements

• President Masoud Pezeshkian told parliament Iran would not yield to pressure: "We will resolutely defend our land and country and will not allow our enemies to covet our beloved homeland," Times Now reported.
• Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said on Saturday that his country would carry out "any measure to protect" Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requested assistance, Al Jazeera reported. Egypt's parliament was convened in an emergency session on Sunday at his request.
• President Donald Trump predicted the Iran war would end "very quickly", according to Gulf News' live coverage.
• Iran's government said it had proposed a seven-day plan through Qatar to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while reporting tankers on fire in the strait, Gulf News reported.
• Maritime security analyst Alexandru Hudisteanu told Al Jazeera that Egyptian forces could come to Saudi Arabia's aid within hours if authorised — with counterdrone and antimissile support the most likely form of assistance, possibly including warships sent to Saudi ports.

Why This News Matters

• A new hardline voice at Iran's defence ministry — Akhlaghi's first-day threats signal Tehran intends to meet any renewed US strike with escalation, not restraint, raising the risk for American personnel across the region.
• Egypt's potential entry widens the conflict — if Cairo commits military assets, the confrontation between the US-Israel-Saudi camp and Iran's allies would gain a new and unpredictable front in the Red Sea.
• Energy and economic stakes for Pakistan — any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz hits global oil prices and Pakistan's fuel bill directly, at a time when the country is already absorbing shocks from the suspended Iran trade corridors and the extended Indian airspace ban.
• Pakistan's mediator role is under strain — Islamabad brokered the ceasefire and the June agreement; renewed strikes by both sides test the credibility of that diplomacy.

Future Developments

Egypt's parliament is meeting in an emergency session on Sunday, and any authorisation of defence assistance for Saudi Arabia would mark a major escalation. All eyes are also on whether Trump follows through on his reported discussion of striking Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility with the GBU-43/B bomb.

Diplomatically, Iran's seven-day plan through Qatar to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could offer an off-ramp if both sides engage, while Lebanon is preparing for talks with Israel and the United States on October 20, according to Gulf News. The coming week will show whether the region moves towards de-escalation — or deeper war.

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