In brief
In a significant development, US immigration officials have arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, relatives of the late Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani. The arrests come after their permanent residency status was revoked, with claims of promoting Iranian propaganda. This incident underscores the ongoing strain in US-Iran relations following Soleimani's death in a US airstrike in 2020.
The niece and grand-niece of the deceased commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Qasem Soleimani, have been arrested, according to the US State Department.
Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter had their lawful US permanent resident status revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the decision in a statement released on Saturday.
Rubio stated that the women are currently in custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the United States.
General Soleimani, a key figure in Iran's military operations, was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq in January 2020, an action ordered by then-President Donald Trump.
The State Department deemed Soleimani Afshar an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran and accused her of promoting Iranian regime propaganda through her social media platforms.
Additionally, Soleimani Afshar's husband has been barred from entering the US, although the names of her daughter and husband have not been disclosed.
In his statement, Rubio remarked that the women were green card holders living lavishly in the United States, suggesting a disconnect between their lifestyle and their alleged support for the Iranian regime.
General Soleimani was the head of Iran's Quds Force and was pivotal in shaping military operations across the Middle East. His assassination marked a turning point in US-Iran relations.
During a national address, Trump reflected on the strike that killed Soleimani, describing him as an evil genius while also indicating that Iran would be in a stronger position had Soleimani survived.
