Iran Establishes Interim Council to Lead Country After Ayatollah Khamenei's Assassination

Within 24 hours of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's assassination, Iran constitutionally established an interim council. The three-member council will serve as the country's supreme leadership until a new supreme religious leader is elected. One of the members of the council is Ali Reza Arafi, a religious leader close to Khamenei. The other two members are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei. The position of supreme religious leader in Iran's history has generally been held by influential clerics. Before Khamenei, Ruhollah Khomeini held this position. The role, which had so far been held by one person, has now been temporarily divided among three people. However, Arafi's influence is relatively high as he is the only religious leader on the council. Arafi is currently the deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, Iran's most influential body. The body elects the country's supreme religious leader. In the past, he has been a member of the Guardian Council, a body that approves candidates for election and passes laws in parliament, as well as a member of the judiciary. Although he has been a relatively