By Riffat Kausar
Bureau Chief Helsinki
SNN News Finland
Iran defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, has told the country’s parliament that Iran’s armed forces are ready for war, declaring that the military’s “finger is on the trigger” and that new weapons factories are being built inside mountains and fortified sites rather than at older, more exposed locations.
Iran defense minister declares forces ready for war
Speaking before lawmakers in Tehran, Akhlaghi Ketabchi said the armed forces stand prepared to respond to any attack. “Our finger is on the trigger — we are ready for war with the Zionists,” he said, using the term Iranian officials routinely apply to Israel.
The statement marks one of the first major public interventions by the new defense chief since he took office. It signals continuity rather than a shift in Iran’s public posture toward Israel and the United States.
Factories moved inside mountains, minister says
Akhlaghi Ketabchi also revealed that Iran’s defense manufacturing has been reorganised. According to his account, new production plants are being constructed inside mountains and secure facilities instead of the older sites that were more easily targeted.
Analysts have long described Iran’s strategy as one of dispersal and hardening spreading sensitive production across deep underground sites so that no single strike can disable it. The minister’s remarks suggest that approach is now being applied more broadly across weapons manufacturing.
Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi
Iran’s parliament approved Akhlaghi Ketabchi as defense minister on 18 October 2026, with 237 votes in favour and 15 against. He replaces a predecessor who was killed during the war with the United States and Israel.
Described as a veteran of Iran’s missile industry with ties to the Revolutionary Guards, he has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union. His confirmation puts a figure with deep technical and military-industrial experience at the head of the defense ministry at a moment of acute regional tension.
Key facts
- Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi confirmed as Iran’s defense minister on 18 October 2026, with 237 votes in favour and 15 against.
- He stated that Iran’s forces have their “finger on the trigger” and are ready for war.
- The minister said new weapons factories are being built inside mountains and fortified sites.
- He is a missile-industry veteran linked to the Revolutionary Guards, sanctioned by the US and EU.
- He succeeds a defense minister killed in the war with the United States and Israel.
Regional context
The remarks land during a period of heightened confrontation across the Middle East. Recent reporting from SNN News Finland has covered escalation on multiple fronts, including allegations surrounding a strike on a school in Minab and reported obstacles to a proposed international outpost in Gaza.
Iran’s public messaging has consistently emphasised readiness. Earlier SNN coverage noted how thousands of Iranian women have trained in martial arts since 1989, part of a broader emphasis on domestic capability and mobilisation.
FAQs
Who is Iran’s new defense minister?
Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, a missile-industry veteran with ties to the Revolutionary Guards, confirmed by parliament on 18 October 2026.
What did he say about war?
He said Iran’s forces have their “finger on the trigger” and are ready for war, according to statements delivered before parliament.
What did he reveal about factories?
He said new weapons production plants are being constructed inside mountains and fortified facilities instead of older sites.
Why does this matter?
The remarks indicate that Iran is hardening and dispersing its defense industrial base, a strategy intended to make it harder to disable through military strikes.
Is Iran’s position on Israel changing?
His language echoes long-standing Iranian official rhetoric. The statements suggest continuity rather than a new policy direction.
What happens next
Whether the minister’s statements translate into operational changes is not yet clear. What is evident is that Iran’s leadership is signalling that its strategy is evolving: facilities are being hardened, production is being dispersed, and the public language around deterrence is becoming more explicit.
Regional governments and international observers will be watching whether the new defense chief’s rhetoric is matched by further changes on the ground or whether it remains, as before, a message aimed primarily at deterring attack.
Read more about Iran’s new defense minister, his “finger on the trigger” warning, and the reported mountain arms factories in our latest coverage.
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