The daughters of Qassem Soleimani, the late commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, have publicly rejected U.S. assertions regarding the arrest of family members, Iranian state media reported this weekend. The development comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Zeinab Soleimani, one of the commander's daughters, stated through Iranian media channels on Saturday that recent U.S. State Department claims about detaining relatives were "completely false." She emphasized that those reportedly arrested in the United States "have no familial connection" to their family.
This rebuttal follows a U.S. government announcement on April 4, 2026, regarding the detention of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter. American authorities described Afshar as a "niece-level relative" of the slain military leader, who was killed in a 2020 drone strike.
Analysts suggest the conflicting narratives highlight continuing diplomatic friction, particularly as multilateral negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program remain ongoing. The incident marks the latest in a series of confrontations between the two nations since 2020.
