TEHRAN : Zainab Soleimani, daughter of the late Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani, has denied the U.S. State Department’s assertion that two female relatives of her father were arrested in the United States, stating the women have no connection to the Soleimani family.
In a statement, Zainab Soleimani flatly rejected Washington’s claim, insisting that the two individuals detained by U.S. authorities are not related to the martyred commander’s family.
Her remarks followed an earlier announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that Hamida Soleimani Afshar and her daughter — both described as green card holders residing in the U.S. — had been arrested. Rubio alleged the pair were living a “luxurious life” in America and confirmed that their green cards had been revoked.
Adding to the family’s denial, Narges Soleimani, another daughter of Qasem Soleimani, told Iranian state media that neither the family nor any close relatives of the martyred commander currently reside in the United States.
The conflicting accounts come amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with U.S. officials having previously claimed that a niece of Qasem Soleimani and her daughter were taken into custody. The Soleimani family has consistently denied any family presence on U.S. soil.
As of now, U.S. authorities have not publicly responded to the family’s rebuttal. The case continues to draw attention given the high-profile nature of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.
