A high-profile arrest in Los Angeles has exposed a stark duality in the life of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the alleged niece of the late Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. The case has drawn intense scrutiny to the gap between Afshar’s public expressions of loyalty to the Iranian regime and a private lifestyle defined by Western luxury and defiance of the exceptionally modesty laws she supported from abroad.
The U.S. State Department announced on Saturday that Afshar’s residency in the United States has been rescinded, describing her as an outspoken supporter of Iran’s government. The crackdown extended to her immediate family; the residency of her daughter was too revoked, and her husband has been officially barred from entering the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the administration’s stance via a post on X, stating: “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
The Los Angeles arrest shines light on lavish life of slain IRGC general Soleimani’s niece, highlighting a pattern of behavior that U.S. Officials say is incompatible with the privileges of legal residency. While residing in California, Afshar allegedly used social media to celebrate attacks on U.S. Military personnel in the Middle East and frequently referred to the United States as the “Great Satan.”
A Public Record of Hostility
According to the State Department, Afshar’s digital footprint reveals a deep alignment with the hardline elements of the Iranian government. This support intensified following the start of the ongoing conflict in February, during which she reportedly welcomed the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, following the death of his father on the first day of the U.S.-Israel campaign.
Her rhetoric extended beyond general support for the regime to specific attacks on Iranian dissidents. In one instance, she expressed approval of Tehran’s threats to seize the assets of expatriates labeled as traitors, claiming their “hands are stained with the blood of the people.” She further wrote that taking war reparations from those she described as “scum who sold out their homeland” was “very satisfying.”
Afshar also targeted high-profile figures of the Iranian opposition, including Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. She reportedly shared graphics suggesting Pahlavi was complicit in the war against his own country, questioning his viability as a future leader of Iran.
NEW: The niece and grand-niece of slain Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani were reportedly living ‘lavish’ lifestyles in Los Angeles before being arrested by ICE.
Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece, had allegedly celebrated the Iranian attacks on US soldiers.
“While living in the… pic.twitter.com/Qx54LyckA9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 5, 2026
The Contrast of the California Lifestyle
While Afshar championed a regime known for its strict enforcement of Islamic law, her own life in Los Angeles appeared to operate by entirely different rules. On Instagram, she frequently posted photographs that would be strictly prohibited under Iran’s mandatory hijab laws and public modesty codes.
The imagery included photos of Afshar in bikinis, plunging tops, and shorts—attire for which women in Iran have historically been arrested and imprisoned by the morality police. Other posts showcased a penchant for high-end luxury, featuring gold jewelry, a Louis Vuitton hoodie, and images of her drinking champagne in public spaces.
This juxtaposition—cheering for a government that suppresses women’s freedoms while enjoying those same freedoms in the “Great Satan”—has become a central point of contention in the public discourse surrounding her arrest.
The grandniece of slain Iranian terror mastermind Gen. Qassem Soleimani lived a lavish life in the USA whilst her mother promoted the Iranian Regime.
Sarinasadat Hosseiny, 25, and her mother, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, were arrested after the State Department terminated their… pic.twitter.com/gP5TIA9TtL
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) April 5, 2026
Legal Path to Residency
The investigation into Afshar’s status reveals a decade-long trajectory of migration and legal status updates. She originally entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2015. By 2019, she had been granted asylum, and she subsequently received a Green Card in 2021.
The current rescission of her residency suggests that the U.S. Government has determined her actions and public declarations constitute a violation of the terms under which asylum and permanent residency are granted, particularly regarding the support of entities designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State.
The following table outlines the timeline of her legal status in the U.S.:
| Year | Legal Status | Action/Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tourist Visa | Initial entry into the United States |
| 2019 | Asylee | Granted asylum status |
| 2021 | Permanent Resident | Issued a Green Card |
| 2026 | Rescinded | Residency terminated by State Department |
Conflicting Claims of Kinship
Despite the U.S. Government’s identification of Afshar as the niece of Qasem Soleimani, the late commander’s family has denied the connection. Narjes Soleimani, daughter of the deceased general, stated through Iranian news agencies that the family has never lived in the United States.
Narjes Soleimani further contested the familial link, asserting that the late general had two nephews but no nieces. This discrepancy leaves a lingering question regarding Afshar’s true relationship to the former leader of the IRGC’s Quds Force, though U.S. Officials have proceeded with the residency revocation based on her own public associations, and declarations.
Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. Drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, an event that remains a cornerstone of the volatile relationship between Washington and Tehran.
Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States.
Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 4, 2026
Following the termination of her residency, Afshar and her daughter are now subject to the proceedings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The next confirmed checkpoint in the case will be the formal deportation hearings, where the government is expected to present the social media evidence as justification for the removal of her legal status.
We invite readers to share their perspectives on this case in the comments below.
