The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted a sweeping operation across eight states, resulting in the arrest of 11 Iranian nationals illegally residing in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed these arrests in a statement released on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 [4][5].

The operation, which spanned 48 hours and covered nine cities, included the apprehension of individuals with suspected ties to terrorist organizations [3]. Among those arrested was Mehran Makari Saheli, detained near St. Paul, Minnesota. ICE officials report that Saheli is a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has "admitted connections to Hezbollah," a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization backed by Iran [3].

In Jackson, Mississippi, authorities arrested Yousef Mehridehno, whose name appears on the terrorist watchlist. Mehridehno had been living in the U.S. illegally for nearly eight years and was found to have lied on a visa application [2][3].

Another significant arrest was that of Ribvar Karmi in northern Alabama. Karmi, who reportedly served as a sniper in the Iranian military from 2018 to 2021, had entered the U.S. in October 2024 on a K-1 fiancé visa [1]. ICE officials stated that Karmi will remain in custody pending removal proceedings [1].

The DHS reported that five of those arrested had previous criminal convictions, ranging from grand larceny to drug and firearm possessions [3]. In addition to the Iranian nationals, a U.S. citizen was also taken into custody, accused of threatening law enforcement and harboring one of the Iranian nationals [4][5].

This operation comes amid heightened concerns about national security, with Border Patrol warning of 'possible sleeper cells' in the U.S. [2]. The arrests have sparked discussions about the effectiveness of the visa vetting process and the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy and national security.

As this situation continues to develop, federal authorities are expected to provide more details about the arrests and their potential impact on U.S.-Iran relations and domestic security measures.