The niece and grand-niece of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani have been arrested by US authorities, according to a statement from the State Department. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were accused of being pawns of Iranian regime propaganda, thus prompting Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke their lawful US permanent resident status.
Despite the US claims, Soleimani's daughter refuted the allegations, stating that the arrested individuals 'have no connection whatsoever' to her father, who was a prominent military commander before being killed in a US airstrike in Iraq in 2020.
The US government described Soleimani Afshar as a supporter of 'totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran', further stating that she and her daughter were living lavish lives in the United States. Following their detention, they are currently in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the country.
The Department of Homeland Security revealed that Soleimani Afshar, who entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015, was granted asylum in 2019 and became a green card holder in 2021. The state department argues that her multiple trips to Iran post-asylum indicate that her claims were fraudulent.
Soleimani commanded Iran's Quds Force and was influential in its military operations across the region. His assassination by the US not only eliminated a key figure but also escalated tensions between Iran and the US. In a recent address, former President Donald Trump discussed the implications of Soleimani's death, calling him an 'evil genius' while downplaying Iran's current military standing.
Despite the US claims, Soleimani's daughter refuted the allegations, stating that the arrested individuals 'have no connection whatsoever' to her father, who was a prominent military commander before being killed in a US airstrike in Iraq in 2020.
The US government described Soleimani Afshar as a supporter of 'totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran', further stating that she and her daughter were living lavish lives in the United States. Following their detention, they are currently in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the country.
The Department of Homeland Security revealed that Soleimani Afshar, who entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015, was granted asylum in 2019 and became a green card holder in 2021. The state department argues that her multiple trips to Iran post-asylum indicate that her claims were fraudulent.
Soleimani commanded Iran's Quds Force and was influential in its military operations across the region. His assassination by the US not only eliminated a key figure but also escalated tensions between Iran and the US. In a recent address, former President Donald Trump discussed the implications of Soleimani's death, calling him an 'evil genius' while downplaying Iran's current military standing.
