Reports indicate that following the death of Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike yesterday, Alireza Arafi has been appointed as the clerical member of Iran’s Interim Leadership Council.

This role positions him as the highest-ranking religious authority in the transition, effectively taking over as acting Supreme Leader.

Under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, a three-person council is mandated to lead the country until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor.

The council now consists of Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, serving as the jurist member and religious face of the transition; Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran; and Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, the Chief Justice.

At 67, Arafi previously led Al-Mustafa International University and serves on both the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts.

He is widely viewed as a modernizing hardliner, having previously advocated for the Islamic Republic to embrace artificial intelligence and high-tech modernization.

The Assembly of Experts is expected to convene “as soon as possible” to vote on a permanent Supreme Leader.

While Arafi is currently seen as the frontrunner for the position, he may face competition from Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s influential son.