US says it has arrested relatives of late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani
US Says It Has Arrested Relatives of Late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
Arrests and Revocation of Status
The U.S. State Department confirmed the arrest of the niece and grand-niece of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a prominent figure in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that their lawful U.S. permanent resident status had been revoked. The statement, released on Saturday, detailed their detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for potential removal from the country.
Soleimani Afshar, the niece, was described as an “outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran” and accused of promoting “Iranian regime propaganda” through her social media activity. The State Department did not disclose the names of Soleimani Afshar’s daughter or husband, who were also barred from entering the United States.
Dispute Over Allegations
Narjes Soleimani, the daughter of the deceased general, refuted the claims, stating that the arrested individuals “have no connection whatsoever” to her father. She criticized the U.S. government, arguing that it had “become so weak and insignificant that by fabricating lies against a great figure.” This statement highlights the family’s disagreement with the administration’s actions.
Legacy and Death
Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a 62-year-old military leader, was killed in a 2020 U.S. air strike at Baghdad airport. He was a key figure in directing Iranian operations across the Middle East as the head of the Quds Force. President Donald Trump, who authorized the strike, referenced Soleimani during a recent address, calling him an “evil genius” and emphasizing his role in advancing Iran’s strategic goals.
“I killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani in my first term. 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,” Trump said.
