Alireza Arafi appointed to Iran’s Leadership Council after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death in Israeli strikes - Who is he?

Religious scholar Alireza Arafi has been appointed to Iran’s temporary leadership council, a body responsible for carrying out the duties of the supreme leader until a new leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts.

Arafi is a member of the powerful Guardian Council, which plays a major role in overseeing elections and reviewing legislation. His appointment to the three-member provisional leadership council was confirmed by the Expediency Council, a key institution that settles disputes between governing bodies in Iran.

The temporary council is expected to function as a caretaker authority if the supreme leadership position becomes vacant. Along with Arafi, the council includes Iran’s president and the chief justice. The other two members are President Masoud Pezeshkian and judiciary head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.

This arrangement is seen as an effort to maintain continuity in governance while the process of choosing a long-term supreme leader continues. Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed any timeline for selecting a permanent successor.

Reports also indicate that several influential figures within the country’s security and political structure may play an important role in the transition period. Former parliament speaker Ali Larijani and officials linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are expected to remain significant in shaping the balance of authority, though the exact distribution of power is still unclear.

At the same time, there has been uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the elite military force after the reported assassination of the commander-in-chief linked to the IRGC. The position has reportedly seen repeated instability, with another senior commander targeted within the past year. Authorities have not yet officially announced a permanent replacement.

Some media reports citing IRGC-affiliated channels suggest that former interior minister Ahmad Vahidi could be considered for a senior leadership role, as he was recently appointed deputy chief by the country’s supreme authority.

The developments continue to draw international attention. According to reports from Al Jazeera, the political and security transition inside Iran remains closely watched amid regional tensions and leadership uncertainty.