Ayatollah Alireza Arafi Appointed to Interim Leadership Council

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been appointed as a member of Iran's Interim Leadership Council, which will exercise power following the death of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. His role commenced on March 1, 2026, in accordance with Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, which provides for a temporary leadership structure until a new Supreme Leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts.

Arafi, born in 1959 in Meybod, Yazd Province, has risen through the ranks of Iran's clerical hierarchy over several decades. He practices Twelver Shi'ism and has a strong educational background, having studied in Qom, a major center for Shi scholarship.

He has held various significant positions, including serving as the head of Iran's nationwide seminaries from 2016 and as a member of the Guardian Council since 2019. Arafi is recognized for his influence across Iran's military, judiciary, and religious institutions, and he has authored numerous works on Islamic jurisprudence and education.