Senior Cleric Ayatollah Arafi Named Iran's Interim Supreme Leader After Khamenei's Assassination

Tehran: Senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been named Iran's Interim Supreme Leader after Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination in the ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran, state news agency ISNA reported. He has been appointed as the interim leader by the Expediency Discernment Council.

He will now carry out the duties of Iran's Supreme Leader until a successor is chosen.

Who Is Ayatollah Alireza Arafi?

Alireza Arafi holds influential roles within the Assembly of Experts, Iran’s seminary establishment and the Guardian Council.

Assassination Of Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel airstrikes amid ‘Operation Epic Fury’, Iranian authorities ordered 40 days of mourning. The 86-year-old leader had ruled Iran since 1989.

Following his assassination, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against further retaliation, saying, “Iran just stated that they are going to hit us very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

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