WASHINGTON (MNN); The United States has arrested two relatives of slain Iranian general Qassem Soleimani after revoking their legal residency status, the State Department confirmed on Saturday.
According to an official statement, the niece and grand-niece of the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ foreign operations arm were taken into custody by federal agents. The arrests followed a decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to terminate their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.
The niece was identified as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, while the name of her daughter was not disclosed. Both individuals are currently being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), though authorities have not revealed their location.
Qassem Soleimani, a key figure in Iran’s military structure, was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020 during the presidency of Donald Trump.
The State Department alleged that Hamideh Soleimani Afshar had publicly expressed support for Iran’s leadership and was critical of the United States. It claimed that her statements on social media included praise for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and criticism of US policies.
Officials also confirmed that her husband has been barred from entering the United States.
In a related development, US authorities said that the daughter and son-in-law of another Iranian official, Ali Larijani, have also had their legal status revoked. The two individuals are no longer in the United States and have been prohibited from future entry.
Ali Larijani, who served as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on March 17.
Commenting on the actions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would not allow individuals who support regimes considered hostile to the United States to reside in the country.
