US Revokes Residency of Relatives of Slain Iranian General Soleimani

The United States has revoked the lawful permanent resident status of two family members of the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani, accusing them of ties to and support for the Iranian government.

The action, ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targeted Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter. Both were arrested by federal agents and are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to a State Department statement, Soleimani Afshar was described as an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime. Officials alleged that while living in the United States, she promoted Iranian state propaganda, celebrated attacks on American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian supreme leader, denounced America as the “Great Satan,” and expressed unwavering support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The department further alleged that she maintained an affluent lifestyle in Los Angeles while posting pro-Iranian content on social media.

In addition to revoking the residency status of the two women, U.S. authorities also barred her husband from entering the country.

The State Department also announced that earlier this month, Secretary Rubio terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, along with her husband. Both individuals are no longer in the United States and have been banned from future entry.

The department thanked the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their roles in the operation, adding that the Trump administration will not allow the country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.