US authorities arrest niece, grandniece of Iran's late General Soleimani in America
An Iranian holds a picture of late General Qassem Soleimani as people gather to mourn him in Tehran, January 4. PHOTO: REUTERS
US authorities on Saturday arrested the niece and grandniece of Iran's late General Qasem Soleimani in the United States after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their legal status.
In a statement, the US State Department said that on Saturday night, the niece and grandniece of deceased Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Qasem Soleimani were arrested by federal agents following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s termination of their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.
"Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As identified by both press reports and her own social media commentary, Soleimani Afshar is an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran," the statement said.
Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States.
Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on…The statement further added that while living in the United States, Soleimani Afshar promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader, denounced the United States as the “Great Satan,” and voiced her unflinching support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"Afshar Soleimani pushed this propaganda for Iran’s terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles, as attested to by her frequent posts on her recently deleted Instagram account," the statement read.
The State Department also said that, in addition to the termination of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter’s LPR status, Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the United States.
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Earlier this month, Secretary Rubio also terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani, and her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi.
"Both Ardeshir-Larijani and Motamedi are no longer in the United States and are barred from future entry," the statement said.
The US Department of State extended its appreciation to the US Department of Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their continued partnership and collaboration in keeping Americans safe.
"The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes," it added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X said that until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States.
"This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter's legal status, and they are now in ICE custody, pending removal from the United States," he added.
He further stated, "The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes."
Qasem Soleimani was a high-ranking Iranian General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and also a commander of the elite Quds Force.
The US military killed Soleimani on January 3, 2020 in an air strike outside Baghdad international airport.