US sanctions 3 Iranian officials linked to death of ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson

Treasury department says the three, who work in Tehran’s Ministry of Intelligence, all played a role in Levinson’s abduction, detention and probable death

The United States has imposed sanctions on three Iranian intelligence officers for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson, the US Treasury and State departments said in press releases on Tuesday.

The sanctions on Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security are the latest linked to the disappearance of the former FBI agent, who Washington believes was abducted in Iran and died in captivity.

As a result of the sanctions, any property of the men under US jurisdiction must be blocked, and Americans are generally barred from dealing with them. Foreign persons also risk blacklisting for dealing with them.

“Iran’s treatment of Mr. Levinson remains a blight on Iran’s already grim record of human rights abuse,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “The Department of the Treasury will continue to work with US government partners to identify those responsible and shine a light on their abhorrent behavior.”

Levinson, who was working as a private investigator, disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran for a meeting seeking information on alleged corruption, but the Washington Post reported in 2013 that Levinson, who had retired from the FBI, was working for the CIA and had gone on a rogue mission aimed at gathering intelligence on Iran.

The three sanctioned individuals all played a role in Levinson’s abduction, detention, and probable death, as well as efforts to cover up Iran’s responsibility, the Treasury Department said.

An FBI poster showing a composite image of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, right, of how he would look like now after five years in captivity, and an image, center, taken from the video, released by his kidnappers, and a picture before he was kidnapped, left, displayed during a news conference in Washington, March 6, 2012. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The sanctions are being imposed under an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden, which seeks to hold to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other “malicious actors” who take hostages for financial or political gain.

The US previously sanctioned two other Iranian officials in December 2020 whom it accused of involvement in Levinson’s disappearance.