Federal agents have detained two relatives of deceased Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the State Department announced on Saturday, as the war in Iran continues well into its second full month.
Soleimani, a fearsome military officer who controlled many of the militias, religious groups and tribal forces that have composed the Iranian warmaking apparatus, was killed in a U.S. drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump during his first term back in 2020. His niece, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, had been promoting “propaganda for Iran’s terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles,” the State Department charged on Saturday.
Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated their lawful permanent resident status this week.
“Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States,” Rubio wrote on X. “Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan.’”
Also in April, Rubio terminated the visas of the daughter of Iran’s former security chief Ali Larijani, killed in an Israeli airstrike in March, and her husband.
“Both are no longer in the United States and are barred from future entry,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson wrote on X.
The White House, meanwhile, is continuing to pummel Iran in a bid to destroy its nuclear capabilities. But Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global trade, has forced Trump to confront increasing gas prices and a midterm picture that looks increasingly bleak for the Republican Party.
The consequences if Iran fails to reopen the strait, he reiterated on Truth Social Saturday after multiple prior warnings, will be severe.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” he said. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
