Tehran, March 1, 2026 — Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a recent US-Israel military strike, Iran has appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as the interim Supreme Leader as part of the country’s constitutional transition process.
Arafi, a senior cleric and member of Iran’s powerful Guardian Council, will serve on the three-member interim Leadership Council responsible for performing the duties of the Supreme Leader until a permanent successor is selected by the Assembly of Experts.
Interim Leadership Council Established
According to the Islamic Republic’s constitutional provisions, a transitional council must assume leadership responsibilities when the position of Supreme Leader becomes vacant. The council comprises:
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi — as the jurist member, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei. This interim body will guide Iran through the transition until the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, elects a new Supreme Leader.
Who Is Ayatollah Alireza Arafi?
Ayatollah Arafi is a seasoned senior cleric with substantial influence within Iran’s religious and political establishment. He holds membership in the Guardian Council, a constitutional body with significant power over leadership decisions and candidate vetting. Arafi’s appointment underscores the regime’s focus on preserving clerical authority and religious legitimacy during a highly sensitive period.
Significance of the Appointment
This appointment marks a crucial step in stabilizing Iran’s leadership following a major geopolitical shock. With Khamenei’s sudden death leaving a power vacuum, the interim council must maintain continuity in governance, manage ongoing regional tensions, and oversee the careful selection of the next Supreme Leader under constitutional rules.
Analysts say that while Arafi’s interim role is temporary, his position as a senior cleric places him at the centre of Iran’s political and religious decision-making during this transitional period. The Assembly of Experts will meet soon to begin the formal selection of a permanent successor, a process closely watched by both domestic and international observers.