Disappearance of Robert Levinson

On January 8, 2013, the Associated Press reported that "the consensus now among some U.S. officials involved in the case is that despite years of denials, Iran's intelligence service was almost certainly behind the 54-second video and five photographs of Levinson that were emailed anonymously to his family. 'The tradecraft used to send those items was too good, indicating professional spies were behind them', the officials said ... While everything dealing with Iran is murky, their conclusion is based on the U.S. government's best intelligence analysis."[20]

According to the Associated Press, Levinson's family received "irrefutable proof" of life late in 2010.[26] On December 9, 2011, the family released a hostage video they received in November 2010. In the video, Robert appears to have lost considerable weight, and repeatedly pleads for help in returning home.[27]

On January 8, 2013, Levinson's family released photos to the media showing the former agent in an orange jumpsuit with overgrown and unkempt hair. A family spokesman told CNN the photographs were received in April 2011. CNN reported: "Asked why the family is releasing the images now, more than 18 months later, the spokesman said: 'The family is anxious that not enough is being done. There is frustration with the lack of progress on the case.'"[12]

On May 11, 2015, the United States Senate voted on concurrent resolution 16 for the release of Robert Levinson, which passed in a unanimous decision without amendment.[35] This resolution states that it is U.S. policy that: (1) the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately release Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian, and cooperate with the U.S. government to locate and return Robert Levinson; and (2) the U.S. government should undertake every effort using every diplomatic tool at its disposal to secure their release.[36]

On December 14, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned two employees of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) in connection with the kidnapping.[10] U.S. officials said they had obtained new information about their involvement in Levinson's disappearance but refused to provide further details.[37]

Mohammad Baseri, a high-ranking MOIS employee codenamed "Sanai", is allegedly involved in sensitive Iranian national security investigations and is alleged to have worked with foreign intelligence services to harm U.S. interests.[38][39] Ahmad Khazai, a senior officer of the MOIS, has previously led MOIS delegations to other countries in threat assessment missions.[38] According to the Treasury Department, Baseri and Khazai were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Levinson.[10][37]

$20 million reward poster to help find Robert Levinson.

On March 6, 2012, approaching the fifth anniversary of Robert Levinson's captivity, the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $1-million reward for information leading to his safe recovery and return. In addition, a campaign was launched, using billboards, radio messages, flyers, and a telephone hotline to publicize this reward and obtain information of his whereabouts.[40] In conjunction with this announced reward, the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that it was giving the two youngest Levinson children $5,000 each to help with their college costs.[40]

On March 9, 2015, the FBI increased the reward to up to $5 million for information regarding Levinson's whereabouts.[41]

On November 4, 2019, the United States Department of State Rewards for Justice Program offered a $20-million reward for information leading to Levinson's whereabouts.[42]

Pressed by Charlie Rose in an interview for CBS This Morning in September 2012, then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "did not deny Iran still has Levinson in its custody, and hinted that there had been talks about a prisoner exchange". Rose asked, "Is there anything that could happen, a trade or something, that could allow him to come back to the United States?" Ahmadinejad responded:

I remember that last year Iranian and American intelligence groups had a meeting, but I haven't followed up on it. I thought they'd come to some kind of an agreement.

CBS' John Miller said that "tacit admission that he's in their custody and that there have been talks", in and of itself, "is a big step".[43]

In a 2008 interview with NBC's Brian Williams, Ahmadinejad was questioned regarding Levinson's case and its status. He responded:

There was a claim made some time ago, some people came over, the gentleman's family came over. They talked and met with our officials and were given our responses. I see no reason for a person who was given an Iranian visa and — came into Iran, arrived in Iran through official channels, to have problems here. Our security officials and agents have expressed their willingness to assist the FBI, if the FBI has any information about his travels around the world. We have said that we are ready to help, to assist with that matter. There are certain informations that only the FBI at the moment has. I am not an expert in that field, as you might appreciate, so I'm not going to make a judgment here whether that information, as they say, is true and only held by the FBI or other parties for that matter.[44]

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour during her trip to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke of cooperation regarding Levinson's case. "We are willing to help, and all the intelligence services in the region can come together to gather information about him to find his whereabouts", Rouhani told Amanpour, "and we're willing to cooperate on that".[19]

In a subsequent interview with Charlie Rose, Rouhani said, "As to where his whereabouts when he disappeared, I personally have no information on those details, but naturally when someone disappears their family is suffering in specific. Everyone must help. It's natural that everyone must help".[45]

In a filing to the United Nations' Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Iran's embassy in Geneva, citing Tehran's Justice Department, claimed that Levinson had an "ongoing case in the Public Prosecution and Revolutionary Court of Tehran".[46] The Revolutionary Court of Tehran usually handles cases of espionage, smuggling, blasphemy and attempts to overthrow Iran's government.[46]