Iran’s New Supreme Leader Announced: Ayatollah Arafi Named Interim Leader After Khamenei Killing

A dramatic power transition is unfolding in Tehran after reports of the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Senior cleric Alireza Arafi has been appointed to Iran’s constitutionally mandated temporary leadership council, positioning him at the center of the country’s political future. Arafi now serves alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on the interim ruling council responsible for carrying out the Supreme Leader’s duties during the transition period. Under Iran’s constitutional framework, when a Supreme Leader dies, authority temporarily shifts to a leadership council until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent successor. With Arafi — a Guardian Council member and longtime establishment insider — stepping into a pivotal jurist role, he has emerged as one of the most powerful figures in Iran at a time of intense regional tension. As Tehran navigates this high-stakes succession process, the formation of the interim council signals a critical tu ing point for the Islamic Republic and its future direction.