US Arrests Relatives of Late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani

Tue Apr 07 2026 09:08:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a controversial move, the US has arrested relatives of General Qasem Soleimani, revoking their permanent resident status. This development has sparked a debate over their alleged connections to terrorism and the subsequent claims of innocence from the accused.

The US Department of State announced the arrest of two relatives of the late Iranian military figure General Qasem Soleimani, claiming they posed a risk due to their past actions and affiliations. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter had their lawful permanent resident status revoked, but they vehemently deny any connections to terrorism. This incident has raised questions about immigration policies and the justification behind the arrests.

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

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter's lawful US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement released on Saturday.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 dismissed the state department's claims, insisting that the arrested individuals have no connection whatsoever to her father.

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

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

Soleimani Afshar was granted asylum in 2019 and awarded green card status in 2021. During her naturalization application process, she reportedly disclosed several trips to Iran, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of her asylum claim, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterized as fraudulent.

Alongside allegations of promoting Iranian regime propaganda, the DHS indicated that Soleimani Afshar's husband has also been barred from entering the US.

Responding to these developments, Narjes Soleimani vehemently denied any affiliations with the US claims, asserting that her family was simply targeted by a narrative intended to vilify her father.

Soleimani was widely recognized for his role in orchestrating Iran's military operations across the Middle East and was killed alongside other militia figures during a drone strike at Baghdad airport.

Trump, referencing the strike, expressed during a national address how Soleimani's continued existence could have improved Iran's influence in ongoing conflicts.