The niece and grand-niece of the deceased commander of the Iranian Major Guard Corps, Gen Qasem Soleimani, have been arrested, the State Department has said; Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter’s lawful US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a statement released on Saturday said.

Revoked Status and Immigration Custody

In a post on social media. Rubio said the two women were in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the country. The State Department said Soleimani Afshar is an ‘outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran.’

The statement also added that Soleimani Afshar had ‘Iranian regime propaganda’ on her social media account. Soleimani Afshar’s husband has also been barred from the US, the statement said. The state department did not name Soleimani Afshar’s daughter or husband.

Public Statements and Criticism

Rubio also shared a statement on X, saying Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were ‘green card holders living lavishly in the United States.’ Gen Qasem Soleimani championed Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Iran’s elite Quds Force.

The 62-year-old was killed at Baghdad airport, along with other Iran-backed militia figures. ‘I killed Gen Qasem Soleimani in my first term,’ Trump said. ‘He was an evil genius, brilliant person, a horrible human being however, the father of the roadside bomb, and he lived just horrible, what he did.’

He added that Iran would have been ‘perhaps in a far better, stronger position’ in the war if Soleimani was still alive. The arrest of Soleimani Afshar and her daughter comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with the US seeking to hold individuals linked to the Iranian regime accountable for their actions.

Background on Soleimani’s Role

Gen Qasem Soleimani was a key figure in Iranian military operations across the Middle East, playing a central role in the Quds Force, which is responsible for training and supporting proxy militias. His death in 2020, following a US drone strike in Baghdad, was a central moment in US-Iran relations.

The US government has taken various measures against individuals and entities associated with Iran, including sanctions and immigration restrictions. The current arrests are part of a broader strategy to target individuals who are perceived to be supporting Iran’s regime.

The State Department’s statement highlights the focus on individuals who are believed to be promoting Iranian propaganda and supporting the regime. The actions taken by the US government reflect a continued effort to isolate Iran and its allies in the international arena.

As the US continues to monitor and respond to threats from Iran, the arrests of Soleimani’s relatives show the administration’s stance on holding individuals accountable for their ties to the Iranian regime. The move also sends a message to other individuals and groups that may be associated with Iran’s government.