Arafi

10 yrs after election loss, Alireza Arafi is Iran’s interim leader: How he rose to likely succeed Ayatollah Khamenei

by

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s constitution has a clause for extreme moments — such as when the Supreme Leader dies, or is assassinated as has happened in the case of Ali Khamenei. Born in 1959 in the historic town of Meybod in the central Iranian province of Yazd, Arafi comes from a clerical family, according … Read more

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi: Iran’s interim leader emerges from Khamenei’s trusted circle; spoke of AI to spread ideology

by

Until this week, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was a name familiar mainly within the insular world of Iran’s clerical establishment. That changed overnight. On Sunday, Arafi was appointed as the jurist member of Iran’s interim Leadership Council, the body tasked with fulfilling the Supreme Leader’s role until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor. Born … Read more