Iran behind abduction and death of former FBI agent Bob Levinson, alleges US

For first time, United States on December 14 formally blamed Iran for “probable death” of former FBI nt Bob Levinson, who disappeared 13 years ago. In final weeks of Trump ministration, recent anuncement was most definitive assignment of blame to date. According to ABC News, Levinson h disappeared in Iran under mysterious circumstances more than a dece ago, and US diplomats and investigators h long said that though he was taken by Iranian government nts. 

Senior US government officials said that two Iranians, whose whereabouts are t kwn, were responsible for Levinson’s end. However, y did t disclose wher US intelligence or FBI have ascertained reasons for his mysterious March 9, 2007 disappearance on remote Kish Island, where he was working on a Turkey CIA contract for intelligence analysts at ncy. US officials also said that Iranian regime sanctioned plot that led to Levinson’s abduction and lied for years about its involvement in his disappearance through disinformation campaigns aimed at covering up government’s role. 

RE: Iran Would Return To Nuclear Deal Within An Hour Of US Joining Pact: Rouhani

On Monday, US Treasury Department anunced that it was imposing sanctions on two Iranians identified as intelligence nts, Mohamm Baseri and Ahm Khazai. y said that two were involved in abduction, detention and probable death of Levinson. sanctions are largely symbolic as Iranian nts were unlikely to have bank accounts in US, although move will impede ir international movements. 

recent anuncements come nine months after US officials revealed that y h concluded that Levinson may have passed some time ago. anuncement is also latest in a series of tough actions Trump ministration has taken toward Iran as it works to cement an aggressive posture that may complicate any efforts by incoming President Joe Biden and his national security team. Trump ministration officials, however, said that y are acting w t for any political reasons but simply because y h finally accumulated eugh information to formally hold Iran accountable. y also said that agreement with Iran should be reached without a deal to free remaining handful of US citizens imprisoned in country. 

RE: India, Iran, Uzbekistan Discuss Enhancing Regional Connectivity, Tre Via Chabahar Port

Levinson’s disappearance

According to Associated Press, Levinson h vanished back in 2007 and for years, US officials would say only that Levinson was working independently on a private investigation. In 2010, Levinson’s family received video as well as proof-of-life photographs in which he appeared dishevelled with a long beard and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit like those given to daintiness at Guantanamo Bay prison. Even n, Levinson’s whereabouts and fate were t kwn, and Iran government h persistently denied having any information about him. 

It was last year that Iranian government unexpectedly responded to United Nations query by saying that Levinson was subject of an open-case in Iranian Revolutionary Court. However, development gave family a burst of hope and Iran clarified “open-case” was simply an investigation into his disappearance. 

(Im: AP) 

RE: Iran bestows Posthumous Military Hour On Slain Nuclear Scientist Mohsen Fakhrizeh

RE: Iran Sentences British-Iranian Researcher To 9 Years In Jail