US agents arrest Qassem Soleimani’s niece after Rubio revoked green cards
On April 4, 2026, in Washington, U.S. federal agents detained the niece and grand-niece of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani after the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, revoked their lawful permanent resident status. This move marks a significant intensification in U.S. efforts to control Iran-linked individuals.
The detainees, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, are currently held by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The State Department’s announcement links Rubio’s revocation of their green cards directly to their arrest.
Qassem Soleimani was a prominent general in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killed during Donald Trump’s first term. The cancellation of residency status for his relatives reflects the ongoing U.S. policy targeting Iranian military figures.
The U.S. government actively applies administrative measures against those connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to strengthen sanctions and oversight.
This development highlights the continuation of a stringent U.S. stance toward the Iranian military elite and suggests similar actions are likely to continue in the near future.
