BREAKING: The temporarily acting supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Arafeh, was killed after new strikes on Tehran, according to Israeli media. He was appointed this morning to replace Khamenei, who was also killed yesterday in strikes by the US and Israel.

BREAKING: The temporarily acting supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Arafeh, was killed after new strikes on Tehran, according to Israeli media.

He was appointed this morning to replace Khamenei, who was also killed yesterday in strikes by the US and Israel.

**BREAKING: Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Confirmed Dead After U.S.–Israel Strikes – Leadership Vacuum Deepens**

— Iran is in a state of turmoil after its long-time Supreme Leader, **Ayatollah Ali Khamenei**, was confirmed killed in a major joint military operation by the **United States and Israel**, according to multiple international news agencies and Iranian state media

The strikes, part of a broader escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, targeted key leadership compounds and military installations in Tehran and other parts of the country. Iranian state television reported on March 1 that Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, was killed along with several close family members and senior officials.

Khamenei’s death — the result of what the United States labelled “Operation Epic Fury” — marks a watershed moment in regional geopolitics. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly framed the campaign as retribution and an opportunity for transformational change in Iran. Israeli leadership also signalled the campaign would continue until its objectives were met

The Islamic Republic has officially confirmed the supreme leader’s death and announced a 40-day period of national mourning. In an emergency response, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against U.S. and allied positions in the Gulf, contributing to a rapid escalation across multiple fronts.

Domestically, Iranian authorities have begun to implement constitutional procedures for a succession process. State broadcasters reported that a temporary governing council — including the president, judiciary chief, and senior clerical figures — will oversee the country until a new supreme leader can be selected by the Assembly of Experts

There is no credible evidence from major international or Iranian news agencies to support the claim that a cleric named **Ayatollah Arafeh** was appointed and then killed following Khamenei’s death. That specific name and narrative have not been reported by established outlets. Analysts stress that misinformation can spread quickly during such fast-moving conflicts, and official sources should be consulted for confirmation.

The death of Ayatollah Khamenei leaves Iran facing both a leadership vacuum and intensifying conflict on multiple fronts, raising serious concerns among global powers about the risk of a broader regional war.