New Delhi: The grief of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death had not yet subsided when another big news shook the world. Social media and some Israeli media reports claimed that Iran's new interim Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, was killed in an airstrike just hours after taking office. Although this news is still unconfirmed. This has not been confirmed by Iranian state media or any major international agency.
Is the claim of Arafi's death true or a rumor?
So far, Iranian state broadcasters, foreign governments or any major international news agency has not confirmed Arafi's death. The claims came primarily from posts by users on social media, which could not be linked to any independent reporting. One user on Israeli social media wrote, 'I don't think he will last much longer.' At present these claims remain in the realm of rumours.
Who was the Arafi?
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was a senior Iranian cleric and member of the Guardian Council. Following Khamenei's death, a three-member Interim Leadership Council was formed under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, consisting of Arafi, President Massoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Azai. In 2019, the same Arafi had raised slogans with the crowd, 'Death to America, death to England'.
What does the Constitution of Iran say?
The post of Supreme Leader is appointed by the Expert Council, and the post of Deputy Supreme Leader was abolished in 1989, so Khamenei had no official successor. Under the Constitution, the 88-member expert council will have to elect a new permanent Supreme Leader as soon as possible, till then this three-member council will run the country.
What is Trump's condition for talks?
United States President Donald Trump said in an interview with The Atlantic that Iran wants to talk and he has agreed to it. He said that he should have done this earlier. He left too late. In whose hands will be the reins of power in Tehran, this question is on the minds of the whole world. The new permanent leader wants it as soon as possible and this will decide whether war or talks will escalate further.
