The new Iranian Minister of Defense, Merdad Ahlaki, stated in his first address to the media that the country is ready to respond to potential Israeli attacks. Speaking about Iran's military readiness, Ahlaki said: "Our finger is on the trigger, we are ready to fight against the Zionists."
The minister emphasized that Iran independently produces weaponry thanks to the cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and scientific institutions. He explained that new military production facilities are being built in secure and hidden locations to protect production.
"We are not building new production facilities at old locations, but in the mountains and in secure places," Ahlaki said.
Ahlaki also announced a significant step in the development of the Iranian Air Force. He confirmed that a heavy combat aircraft, which is being developed using domestic capabilities, will take its first flight during the coming year.
Who is Merdad Ahlaki Ketabchi?
He is an experienced official in the Iranian defense industry, and he was proposed as the Iranian Minister of Defense by Pezeshkian at the beginning of October, after the previous Minister of Defense, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed in American-Israeli attacks in February of this year.
Ketabchi was the head of the Iranian Aviation Industries Organization and held high-ranking positions in the missile development sector.
Sanctions have been imposed on him by the US and the United Nations due to his activities related to the Iranian missile program.
