US Arrests Relatives of Deceased Iranian General Qasem Soleimani

Sun Apr 05 2026 17:22:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The US has arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of General Qasem Soleimani, and her daughter, claiming connections to terrorist activities, which they deny.

In a controversial move, the US has detained Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, along with her daughter. The State Department claims their residency was revoked due to associations with Iranian regime propaganda, a claim that the arrested individuals vehemently deny. The complexities of their status highlight ongoing tensions surrounding Iranian-American relations.

The niece and grand-niece of the deceased commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen Qasem Soleimani, have been arrested, the US State Department has announced.

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter's lawful US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement released on Saturday.

However, Soleimani's daughter has called the claims false, asserting that the arrested individuals have no connection whatsoever to her father.

Soleimani, regarded as Iran's most powerful military commander, was killed in 2020 during a US air strike in Iraq, ordered by then President Donald Trump.

In a post on social media, Rubio confirmed that the two women were in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), awaiting removal from the country.

He alleged that Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States.

Soleimani Afshar entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015, was granted asylum in 2019, and became a green card holder in 2021. A DHS statement indicated that she visited Iran four times since receiving her green card, suggesting her asylum claims were fraudulent.

Additionally, the DHS noted that her daughter, Sarinasadat Hosseiny, also transitioned from a student visa to asylum and green card status between 2015 and 2023.

The State Department alleged that Soleimani Afshar is an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran, promoting its propaganda on social media.

Soleimani Afshar's husband has also been barred from the US, though his identity remains undisclosed. In her defense, Narjes Soleimani, Soleimani's daughter, stated, The individuals arrested in the US have no connection whatsoever to Martyr Soleimani and the claims made by the US State Department are false. She criticized the US for fabricating lies against her father.

Soleimani historically led Iranian military operations across the Middle East as head of the Quds Force, and was 62 when killed at Baghdad airport alongside other Iran-backed militia figures.

In a recent address, Trump referred to Soleimani's influence, suggesting that Iran might have been in a stronger position had he not died.