Iran has named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to its interim leadership council following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The announcement was made by the spokesman of the Expediency Discernment Council, Mohsen Dehnavi, who said Ayatollah Arafi would serve on the temporary council alongside the president and the head of the judiciary. The body is expected to oversee the country’s affairs until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent successor.
The development comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East after the United States and Israel claimed responsibility for a wave of strikes on Iranian targets on Saturday, which they said resulted in Khamenei’s death. Tehran has not released full official details, but senior Iranian figures have vowed retaliation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the killing as a “declaration of war against Muslims,” promising revenge. Security chief Ali Larijani also warned that Iran would respond to the US and Israel with unprecedented force.
On Sunday, Iran said it had launched fresh attacks, targeting US military bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and in parts of the Gulf. The Iranian army stated that its air force carried out multiple phases of bombing operations against American installations.
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In Israel, air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem after the military reported detecting missiles launched from Iran. Explosions were also reported in parts of the Gulf region, including near Dubai, Manama and Doha, as tensions spread beyond Iran and Israel.
A senior official in the United Arab Emirates cautioned Tehran against widening the conflict, warning that targeting neighbouring Gulf states would be a grave miscalculation.
As the situation unfolds, global leaders are closely watching developments, amid fears that the escalating confrontation could spiral into a broader regional war.
