Who is Ayatollah Alireza Arafi? 'Revolutionary' Shiite appointed as Iran's Interim Supreme Leader after Khamenei's death

Iran's next leader appointed: Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US–Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, Iran has appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as its interim Supreme Leader. A trusted veteran of the clerical establishment born in 1959, Arafi brings decades of experience from the Guardian Council and Al-Mustafa International University to the role.