Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 5: US federal authorities have detained relatives of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani after revoking their lawful permanent resident status, the State Department said.

According to officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the cancellation of green cards held by Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter. Both are currently in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The State Department said the two were detained on Friday, though it did not disclose the location of the arrests. It alleged that Afshar had been residing in Los Angeles and supporting the Iranian government.

Soleimani, a key figure in Iran’s military establishment, was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad in January 2020 during the presidency of Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Iranian media quoted Narjes Soleimani, daughter of Qassem Soleimani, as disputing the claims, stating that the family did not have relatives residing in the United States.

The State Department also said that earlier this month, it revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of senior Iranian politician Ali Larijani, along with her husband, barring them from entering the US.

The developments come amid heightened tensions during the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, with the Trump administration intensifying its immigration enforcement measures.