US says it has arrested relatives of late Iranian ​general Qasem ​Soleimani

The niece and grand-niece of Qasem Soleimani are in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said.

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Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter's lawful US permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a statement released on Saturday said.

However, Soleimani's daughter has called the state department's claims false, saying the arrested individuals "have no connection whatsoever" to her father.

Soleimani, who was Iran's most powerful military commander, was killed in 2020 in a US air strike in Iraq which was ordered by then US President Donald Trump.

In a post on social media, Rubio said the two women were in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pending removal from the country.