Tehran, Iran – The Supreme Leadership Council has appointed Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi as acting Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, following the official confirmation of the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has entered an exceptional and perilous phase in its history. Official authorities announced the activation of Article 111 of the Constitution following the confirmation of Khamenei’s assassination.
In a move aimed at preventing a power vacuum, the Supreme Leadership Council announced the formation of a temporary leadership body. This body will assume the powers of the “Guardian Jurist” until a new Supreme Leader is elected.
Constitutional path: The tripartite body
The spokesperson for the Guardian Council affirmed that institutions are proceeding according to legal procedures to address the “extreme emergency.”
Under Article 111, the transitional body was formed, comprised of three figures representing the balance of power within the state: Masoud Pezeshkian (President): a reformist politician overseeing the executive branch; Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei (Chief Justice): affiliated with the conservative wing and overseeing the security apparatus; and Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi: chosen as the Guardian Council’s representative, a religious authority, to lend the council religious legitimacy.
A’rafi… The sudden rise of the strongman
Ali Reza Arafi stands out as one of the most powerful figures at this stage; he is a member of both the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council. Furthermore, he leads the seminaries (Hawzas) and oversees the Basij militia.
Analysts believe his presence on this tripartite body reflects the desire of the religious and military establishments to secure ideological and security control during the transitional period.
Challenges of the stage and the final word
This shift comes amid immense international and military pressure. The three-member body’s orientations, ranging from reform to hardline, are deeply divided, putting its decision-making to a real test. While this body manages affairs, all eyes remain on the Assembly of Experts. The Assembly of Experts is also the sole authority responsible for electing the permanent Supreme Leader. This all unfolds against a backdrop of global anticipation regarding the future of the Iranian political landscape, which stands at a historic crossroads.
