News DeskLast Updated: 02 Mar 2026, 03:10 pm ISTShare Unverified online posts allege Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was killed in a fresh airstrike, but Iran has issued no confirmation. Ayatollah Alireza Arafi | Photo: AFPIran is facing a deepening leadership crisis amid unconfirmed reports that newly appointed interim supreme leader Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been killed in an airstrike, only hours after stepping into the role. The claims, circulating widely on Reddit and other social platforms, have not been verified by Iranian state outlets, international media organisations or foreign governments.