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Iran threatened to hit back at the United States and Israel today. President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu responded.
More rockets hit The Jewish State, specifically Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There are casualties.
Netanyahu released an AI-generated message in Persian addressing the Iranian people, saying Israel will soon strike “thousands of targets” tied to Iran’s regime and urging citizens to “not miss this opportunity” to “take to the streets” and “overthrow the regime of terror. The help you wished for has arrived.”
Iranian state media has confirmed that Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been appointed as the interim Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei. Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi has been selected also as a member of the interim leadership council alongside Iranian President Pezeshkian and the head of the judiciary.
Under Iran's Constitution (Article 111), in the event of the Supreme Leader's death, a three-member interim council assumes his responsibilities until the Assembly of Experts elects a permanent successor. The council comprises the sitting President (Masoud Pezeshkian), the head of the judiciary (Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei), and a religious jurist selected from the Guardian Council.
Arafi, a senior Shia cleric, was named to fill the jurist role, as confirmed by state-linked outlets including ISNA and reports from the Expediency Discernment Council. This arrangement ensures continuity of leadership during the transition amid ongoing regional conflict.
Profile: Who is Ayatollah Alireza Arafi?
Born in 1959 in Maybod, Yazd province, the 67-year-old Arafi is a prominent figure in Iran's religious establishment. He began his classical religious studies in Iran and relocated to Qom in 1970, where he advanced his education in philosophy, ethics, and theology.
Arafi currently holds several key positions:
- Deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with selecting and overseeing the Supreme Leader.
- Member of the Guardian Council, which vets parliamentary candidates and legislation for compliance with Islamic principles.
- Director of Iran's nationwide Islamic Seminary system, overseeing religious education and training for clerics across the country.
- Former head of Al-Mustafa International University, an institution focused on training Shia clerics both domestically and internationally.
Fluent in Arabic and English, Arafi is recognized for advocating the integration of modern technology—including artificial intelligence—to promote Iran's ideological and religious messaging on the global stage. He also serves as the Friday prayer leader in Qom, Iran's primary religious center, reported Clash Report.
While Arafi is a close ally of the late Khamenei and deeply embedded in the clerical hierarchy, his appointment is viewed as transitional. The Assembly of Experts is expected to move swiftly to select a permanent Supreme Leader, though the ongoing conflict and internal dynamics could influence the timeline and outcome.
