US Arrests Relatives of Former IRGC Commander, Revokes Residency

The U.S. Department of State announced Saturday the detention of two Iranian women within the United States and the revocation of their permanent residency status, a measure described as targeting individuals suspected of supporting the Iranian regime.

Federal authorities apprehended the two women, identified as the niece and grandniece of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, following a decision to terminate their legal status as permanent residents, the department stated. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with one of them reportedly known for publicly endorsing the Iranian regime, based on media reports and social media posts.

The actions extended beyond the two women, also encompassing the prohibition of Hamideh's husband from entering the United States, as part of a broader policy Washington is implementing against individuals associated with or sympathetic to Iranian authorities.

In a related development, the State Department indicated that earlier this month, similar measures were taken against other individuals from families of former Iranian officials. These included the termination of legal status for Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of Ali Larijani, and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi.

The department affirmed that these steps are part of the U.S. administration's strategy to tighten restrictions on those it considers supporters of regimes Washington deems adversarial, emphasizing that its territory will not be permitted as a sanctuary for such individuals.