Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been appointed as Iran’s acting Supreme Leader, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), marking a significant development in the country’s leadership transition process.
The appointment follows a decision by Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council to elect Arafi as the jurist member of the Guardian Council within the Leadership Council — the constitutional body tasked with carrying out the responsibilities of the Supreme Leader until a permanent successor is chosen by the Assembly of Experts.
The 67-year-old cleric, who is a prominent member of the influential Guardian Council, was confirmed as part of the three-member Leadership Council by the Expediency Council. His appointment positions him at the centre of Iran’s interim governance structure during the transition period.
Under Iranian law, the Interim Council assumes the duties of the Supreme Leader pending the selection of a successor. Ayatollah Arafi will serve alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, forming the trio responsible for overseeing key leadership functions during this critical phase.
The development signals the activation of Iran’s constitutional mechanisms for continuity of governance as the nation navigates a pivotal moment in its political history.