US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Revokes Residency of Late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani’s Niece Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and Grand-Niece, ICE Makes Arrests
US authorities have arrested the niece and grand-niece of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani after revoking their green cards. Officials allege they supported Iran’s regime and the IRGC. The move comes amid rising US-Iran tensions and reflects a broader crackdown on foreign nationals with alleged links to Tehran.
US federal authorities have detained two relatives of slain Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani after Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement that he has revoked their lawful permanent resident status, the State Department said on Saturday. The individuals, identified as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, are currently in custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The action follows a decision by Marco Rubio to cancel their green cards, citing concerns over alleged support for Iran’s government and affiliated organisations. The move comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. ‘Time Is Running Out’: Donald Trump Says Iran Has 48 Hours To Make Deal or Open Strait of Hormuz.
Qasem Soleimani’s Niece, Grand-Niece Detained by US ICE
What Rubio Posted on X
"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 Americans and referred to our country as the 'Great Satan.' 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. The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes," Rubio wrote on X.
Who Was Qasem Soleimani?
Qasem Soleimani, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in 2020. The operation, ordered by then US President Donald Trump, marked a major escalation in US-Iran relations at the time. Soleimani played a key role in Iran’s military strategy across the Middle East and was a central figure in regional conflicts. Iran Grants Passage for Essential and Humanitarian Goods Through Strait of Hormuz.
According to a State Department statement, the two were taken into custody on Friday after their legal residency status was withdrawn. Officials alleged that while residing in the United States, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar promoted content supportive of the Iranian government and expressed backing for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US designates as a terrorist organisation.
The arrests are part of a broader policy push targeting foreign nationals with alleged links to Iran, as tensions between the two countries remain elevated. US officials have not provided detailed evidence publicly but indicated that the move aligns with national security priorities during an ongoing period of geopolitical strain.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 04, 2026 09:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).