The United States has revoked the green cards or visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who have been detained and face deportation.
The action, announced this week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, takes place amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and follows a similar move last year targeting Iranian diplomats and staff at the United Nations.
Among those affected are Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, and her daughter, who were arrested by U.S. immigration agents in Los Angeles. Afshar’s husband has also been barred from entering the United States.
According to the State Department, Afshar and her daughter lived a “lavish lifestyle” in the U.S. while publicly supporting the Iranian government and anti-American attacks. Rubio described Afshar as “an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans.”
Earlier revocations included Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Iranian national security adviser Ali Larijani, and her husband, both of whom no longer reside in the U.S.
Huma Nisar is Associate Editor at Views and News. She also writes opinion articles on health, society and diet.
