Following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in his office on Saturday morning, following the US-Israel joint strike on Iran, senior cleric Ayatollah Arafi has been named the country’s interim Supreme Leader, the state-linked ISNA news agency reported. Born in 1959, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi (67) is a prominent figure within Iran’s religious establishment. This body is said to co-lead the nation as Iran enters a transition phase following Khamenei’s killing. American President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death on X, stating, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. ALSO READ: Ayatollah Arafi to serve as Iran’s interim supreme leader after Ayatollah Khamenei’s death in US-Israel airstrikes

Source: News 24 March 01, 2026 11:26 UTC