Iran has named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a seasoned cleric to its interim leadership council, which will be at the helm of the country following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. airstrikes.
“The Expediency Discernment Council has elected Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as a member of the interim leadership council,” says expediency council spokesman Mohsen Dehnavi in a post on X.
The interim council, which will also include the president and the head of the judiciary, will lead the country until the Assembly of Experts “elects a permanent leader as soon as possible.”
Arafi was one of the key frontrunners in the race to succeed Khamenei. The 67-year-old is a seasoned cleric and close associate of the late supreme leader Khamenei. Arafi currently serves as deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, which appoints the Supreme Leader.
His previous roles include time spent as a member of the influential Guardian Council, the body responsible for vetting election candidates and reviewing legislation passed by parliament.
He also heads Iran’s seminary system.
