3 Iranians with Ties to 1979 Hostage Crisis Arrested in LA

Arrests include son of Iranian regime figure who was spokeswoman during Tehran embassy takeover

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:25pm

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A dynamic, fragmented painting in shades of green, white, and red, with the emblem of the Islamic Republic of Iran repeated in a kinetic, overlapping pattern, conceptually representing the complex and fractured relationship between the U.S. and Iran.The arrests of Iranians with ties to the 1979 hostage crisis expose ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, even as the two countries attempt to negotiate peace.Los Angeles Today

Three prominent Iranian immigrants, including the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar who was a spokesperson during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, have been arrested in Los Angeles and will be deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The arrests come as the U.S. and Iran are engaged in ongoing peace talks.

Why it matters

The arrests highlight the continued tensions between the U.S. and Iran, even as the two countries attempt to negotiate an end to the current conflict. The involvement of individuals with direct ties to the 1979 hostage crisis raises national security concerns for the U.S. government.

The details

ICE arrested Eissa Seyed Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son Seyed Mobin Hashemi in Los Angeles. Eissa Seyed Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, an Iranian regime politician who was a spokesperson during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. The three individuals had been granted permanent legal status to live in the U.S. by the Obama administration in 2016, but their status has now been revoked.

  • The arrests were announced on April 11, 2026.
  • Hashemi entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2014 and became a green card holder in 2016.

The players

Eissa Seyed Hashemi

An Iranian immigrant who was arrested in Los Angeles and will be deported. He is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, an Iranian regime figure who was a spokesperson during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Maryam Tahmasebi

The wife of Eissa Seyed Hashemi, who was also arrested in Los Angeles and will be deported.

Seyed Mobin Hashemi

The son of Eissa Seyed Hashemi and Maryam Tahmasebi, who was arrested in Los Angeles along with his parents and will be deported.

Masoumeh Ebtekar

An Iranian regime politician who was a spokesperson during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. She is the mother of Eissa Seyed Hashemi.

Marco Rubio

The U.S. Secretary of State who detailed the arrests in a social media post.

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What they’re saying

“Under President Trump's leadership, the United States will not be a safe haven for those who threaten our security or undermine our foreign policy.”

— U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“Her family should never have been allowed to benefit from the extraordinary privilege of living in our country. America can never become home for anti-American terrorists or their families — and under the Trump Administration, it never will.”

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State

What’s next

The U.S. government will proceed with the deportation of Eissa Seyed Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son Seyed Mobin Hashemi.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, even as the two countries attempt to negotiate an end to the current conflict. The involvement of individuals with direct ties to the 1979 hostage crisis raises national security concerns for the U.S. government, leading to the revocation of their legal status and pending deportation.