Iran's new defense minister threatens 'enormous damage' if U.S. attacks

Iran's newly appointed Defense Minister Akhlaghi, replacing Aziz Nasirzadeh who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, warns of 'enormous damage' in response to any U.S. attack. The threat signals continuity in Iran's deterrence posture following the decapitation strike that also killed former Supreme Leader Khamenei. The statement escalates rhetoric but does not indicate imminent action; the strategic impact depends on U.S. follow-through and Iran's actual military response.