Washington: America has positioned three Iranian nationals, together with Iran’s sitting ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, on its FBI Most Wished record. The names appeared in an announcement launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which linked them to the 2007 disappearance of former FBI particular agent Robert Bob Levinson.
In accordance with the FBI, Levinson went lacking on March 9, 2007, after arriving on Kish Island – a resort zone off Iran’s southern coast. He was a retired officer by then. The bureau claimed that Moghaddam, together with two different Iranian officers, Taqi Daneshvar and Gholam Hossein Mohammadnia, have been allegedly concerned in orchestrating the kidnapping.
The Iranian authorities has not responded publicly to the allegations.
The FBI, within the assertion, mentioned it’s investigating the trio’s position not solely within the abduction, but in addition in what it known as an effort by the Iranian state to masks its involvement. The company has launched posters bearing their photos, classifying them as a part of a broader intelligence community allegedly working below Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Safety (MOIS).
Officers mentioned Moghaddam is not any bizarre diplomat. He assumed workplace as Iran’s envoy to Islamabad in July 2023. Details about him is sparse on the Iranian embassy’s web site, nevertheless it highlights that he holds a PhD in worldwide relations and in addition serves on Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council.
Nonetheless, the FBI claims Moghaddam beforehand led operations inside the Iranian intelligence ministry. On the time, brokers stationed throughout Europe have been reportedly answerable to him.
Steven Jensen, assistant director in control of the FBI’s Washington Discipline Workplace, described the three as intelligence operatives who performed key roles in Levinson’s disappearance. He additionally mentioned the previous agent may need died in captivity, removed from household, mates and homeland. The FBI is constant its investigation and has reaffirmed a standing $5 million reward for info that would assist find Levinson or make clear the circumstances surrounding his case.
The second man named by the FBI, Taqi Daneshvar, also called Seyed Taqi, is described as a senior MOIS official specialising in counterterrorism. Throughout the interval of Levinson’s disappearance, he allegedly oversaw one other operative named Mohammad Sinai, also called Mohammad Basiri.
The third particular person, Gholam Hossein Mohammadnia, as soon as served as Iran’s ambassador to Albania. He was expelled by the Albanian authorities over what it described as actions that threatened nationwide safety. Iran, in flip, had blamed america and Israel for allegedly pressuring Tirana to take that call.
Levinson’s profession spanned almost three a long time on the U.S. Justice Division. He formally retired from the FBI in 1998. On the time of his disappearance, he had been working privately, reportedly gathering info for company shoppers. What precisely introduced him to Kish Island has by no means been made public by both the U.S. authorities or the FBI.
Years after his disappearance, his son David obtained a video exhibiting Levinson in captivity. In that recording, Levinson was heard saying that he had been held for 3 and a half years, and appealed to the U.S. authorities to answer his captors.
His destiny stays unknown. The FBI has not formally declared him lifeless, and his case stays open.