Washington, DC – The US State Department announced the arrest of two relatives of former Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani after revoking their legal permanent residency status.
This move signals a tightening of measures against those linked to what Washington describes as support for terrorism.
Details of the arrest
The US State Department explained that federal authorities arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter.
It confirmed that they are currently in the custody of US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the revocation of their visas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States will not
allow itself to become a haven for supporters of regimes designated as terrorist organizations.
He also emphasized that these actions are part of a broader policy to counter threats associated with Iran.
Context of escalation with Iran
This move comes amid escalating military and political tensions between the United States and Iran since the end of February.
In this context, Washington, in cooperation with Israel, has been carrying out strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Furthermore, Washington is focused on reducing Tehran’s influence in the region.
It is worth noting that Qassem Soleimani, who commanded the Quds Force, was killed in a US airstrike near Baghdad airport in 2020.
This occurred during the first term of US President Donald Trump, amid ongoing concerns about Iranian retaliation.
