Iran’s new defense minister warns US of heavy costs if military action resumes

This is a signal of continuity, not a change in Iran's deterrent posture: the new defense minister is using his first high-profile statement to reaffirm that any US strike would be met with regional retaliation, including against allied hosts. The near-unanimous parliamentary confirmation gives the message domestic political weight, suggesting the defense line is broadly backed rather than a personal stance. For markets, the relevant read-through is to Middle East risk premia rather than Iran-specific exposure. The open question is whether such rhetoric stays declaratory or is matched by visible force posture changes.