Recent photos have provided a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of the deceased Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani, and her daughter Salina Sadat Hosseini. The two women were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the State Department revoked their green cards last week.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that Afshar is a vocal supporter of the Iranian government, openly praising acts against Americans while disparaging the U.S. as “the great devil.” This situation is not isolated; there are many relatives of Iranian officials in the West who criticize the very societies in which they live.
Sheila Nazarian, who fled Iran as a child, described these women as hypocritical. “They want to flaunt their wealth on yachts and social media, while their fortunes come from the suffering of the Iranian people,” she remarked. Nazarian added that hypocrisy reigns, as in Iran, women face severe punishment for violating modesty rules, whereas affluent individuals here live in stark contrast.
Following their arrest a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, the images of the house rented by Afshar reveal a modest living situation despite its approximate $500,000 price tag. Afshar reportedly lived in a small dwelling behind the main house and relied on her daughter to manage rental arrangements.
Inside the residence, there were signs of a social media lifestyle, including selfie gear and a mannequin. Notably, a Tesla Model 3, which is believed to belong to either Afshar or her daughter, was found loaded with luxury items, a stark contrast to the modest exterior of their home. Afshar was previously seen on Instagram showcasing a glamorous life, including a photo next to a helicopter.
The recent detentions are part of a broader trend aimed at the families of Iranian officials living comfortably in the U.S. Earlier this month, the State Department also annulled the legal status of another relative of an Iranian official.
Additionally, a separate case involves Eissa Hashemi, son of a former Iranian spokesperson, who is facing calls for deportation due to his luxurious lifestyle in Los Angeles.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Lauren Biss stated that Afshar and her daughter entered the U.S. in 2015—Afshar on a tourist visa and her daughter on a student visa. They were granted asylum in 2019.
Biss noted that Afshar became a green card holder during the Biden administration in 2021, followed by her daughter in 2023. However, the Department raised concerns about Afshar’s travel to Iran, which may indicate that her asylum claim was not legitimate.
