US says it has arrested relatives of late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani
US Arrests Relatives of Late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
The U.S. has detained the niece and grand-niece of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that their legal status as permanent residents had been revoked. The action was revealed in a statement released on Saturday.
Soleimani’s Daughter Disputes Claims
In a social media post, Soleimani’s daughter, Narjes Soleimani, called the U.S. accusations false. She asserted that the arrested individuals “have no connection whatsoever” to her father. Narjes also claimed the U.S. has “become so weak and insignificant” that it fabricates lies against a “great figure.”
“The individuals arrested in the U.S. have no connection whatsoever to Martyr Soleimani and the claims made by the U.S. State Department are false,” Narjes Soleimani stated.
Background on Soleimani’s Death
Gen. Soleimani, who was Iran’s most influential military leader, was killed in 2020 during a U.S. air strike at Baghdad airport. The attack, ordered by then-President Donald Trump, also targeted other Iran-backed militia members. Trump later referred to Soleimani as an “evil genius” and a “horrible human being” in a national address.
“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.
State Department’s Allegations
The U.S. Department of State accused Soleimani Afshar, his niece, of being a “supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran” and spreading “regime propaganda” online. It also noted that her husband had been barred from entering the country. The department did not disclose the names of Soleimani Afshar’s daughter or spouse.
In a separate comment, Rubio stated that the two women were under the care of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), awaiting deportation. He added that they were “green card holders living lavishly in the United States.”
