The United States State Department has revoked the green cards of three Iranian nationals and ordered their arrest, citing family connections to senior figures within the Iranian government and military, the department announced on Saturday.
Among those arrested was Seyed Eissa Hashemi, whose mother played a role in the 1979 Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis that defined a period of deep tension between the two countries, according to reporting by the Guardian. The other two individuals are said to have family ties to an Iranian military general, a regime spokesperson, and a security chief, though the State Department did not provide full details of each connection.
Federal agents carried out the arrests following the termination of the individuals' permanent residency status. The State Department has not publicly disclosed the precise legal grounds under which the green cards were revoked, nor has it specified what, if any, charges the three individuals face.
The action reflects a broader posture by the current US administration toward individuals with perceived connections to the Iranian government. US-Iran relations remain severely strained, with ongoing disputes over Iran's nuclear program, regional proxy conflicts, and allegations of Iranian plots against American officials and dissidents on US soil.
It is not uncommon for immigration authorities to revoke residency status on national security grounds, though such actions targeting individuals based on family relationships to foreign officials are less frequently publicized. Critics of such policies have in the past argued that familial association alone does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing or a security threat.
The Iranian government had not issued a public response to the arrests as of the time of reporting.
The State Department's announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of Iranian nationals living in the United States, particularly as Washington and Tehran continue indirect negotiations and diplomatic maneuvering over nuclear talks and regional influence.
Further details regarding the legal proceedings against the three individuals are expected to emerge as their cases move through the US immigration and judicial systems.
