Iran has appointed a temporary Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to a joint airstrike by the United States and Israel on Tehran. The announcement was made by Mohsen Dehghani, spokesperson for the Expediency Council, via social media platform X.
The Expediency Council has designated Arafi to lead during the transitional period until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor. Arafi will share leadership responsibilities with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, forming a trio that now holds the supreme authority previously held solely by Khamenei.
Despite being part of a three-member governing body, Arafi, as the only cleric, is positioned as the senior figure within this council. His leadership comes at a critical time for Iran, which is navigating significant political and military challenges.
In a related development, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a leadership change following the death of its commander, General Mohammad Pakpour. Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed as the new head of the IRGC, an influential institution in Iran with substantial military, political, and economic clout, operating independently from the regular armed forces.
Alireza Arafi is a prominent Shia cleric who previously served as the head of the Al-Mosafa Institute, a religious educational center, from 2009 to 2018. He claims to have converted 50 million people to Shia Islam during his tenure. Arafi is known for his strong opposition to atheism and Christianity, particularly targeting home churches in Iran, which he views as forms of idolatry.
On February 28, Israel launched an attack on Tehran, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to announce a large-scale military operation against Iran aimed at neutralizing perceived threats from the Iranian regime. Trump accused Iran of funding and training militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Hamas in Palestine, asserting that the operation’s goal is to dismantle Iran’s missile industry and naval capabilities.
In response, the IRGC claimed to have launched missiles and drones towards Israel and attacked U.S. military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council amidst the escalating military actions.
The European Union reiterated its commitment to ensuring regional security and stability in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the situation, suggesting that the Iranian people deserve a chance to rid themselves of a ‘terrorist regime’ and ensure the safety of those affected by Iranian aggression.
On February 28, Trump confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a statement later corroborated by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The following day, the IRGC declared the initiation of a significant offensive operation against Israel and U.S. bases, with Trump warning Iran against pursuing these plans and threatening a strong retaliatory strike.
Iran has appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as temporary Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei. This leadership change occurs amid escalating military tensions following a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on Tehran.