Iran selects Alireza Arafi as interim leadership council member

TEHRAN -- Iran's Expediency Discernment Council has selected Alireza Arafi as a member of the country's interim leadership council, the official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.

The move complies with Article 111 of Iran's constitution, which requires a jurist from the Constitutional Council to serve on the interim leadership body, IRNA quoted Expediency Council spokesman Seyed Mohsen Dehnavi as saying.

Arafi was appointed to ensure the country's leadership continues without interruption, and that Iran's Assembly of Experts will select a permanent leader as soon as possible, the spokesman said.

Earlier, Iran announced the formation of a three-member transitional council to handle the state duties following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Saturday's US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The interim leadership council also comprises Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei.

The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israeli and US targets across the Middle East.