Robert Levinson

Robert Levinson, was a retired FBI agent, and it is claimed that initially, he went to Kish Island for, “research into cigarette smuggling.” But, later, it was revealed that he had been on an “unofficial mission” working for the CIA. In March of 2007 he disappeared on this island

<coverage-outsourcing id='15945'> He disappeared on Kish Island in Iran </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15950'> The news of his disappearance was announced by American authorities who added that they were awaiting more information from Iran. At the same time it was announced that the agent had been sent to Kish island, on a private case, in order to “research cigarette smuggling” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15951'> His wife and son travelled to Kish island and Tehran and spoke to some of the Iranian authorities in the hopes of finding some trace of him </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15952'> Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran at the time, told Associated Press that he had no information regarding Mr. Levinson. He added, “of course, if his goal on this trip is revealed, and when it is discovered whether he was on a mission or not, then special kinds of help can be provided” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15964'> Major-General Mohammad Ali Jaffar, at a press conference in Tehran, mentioning a document revealed in wikileaks regarding the arrest of Robert Levinson by IRGC agents, denied the news declaring that “if the IRGC captures one of its enemies, it makes sure to make an announcement” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15953'> This family announced that they have met witnesses who confirm that Robert Levinson is alive. Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, also said that the American government has evidence that shows Robert Levinson is being held somewhere “in the South West Asia” region </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15954'> His family published a 54 seconds video. In this video, Robert Levinson can be seen in a cell and asks America to comply to the demands of an “unknown group” that had imprisoned him </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15955'> The FBI announced, a one million dollar reward for any information leading to the return home of Mr. Levinson </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15962'> His wife published new pictures of him. These pictures were taken, about, two years ago. They are the last pictures and information that Levinson’s family has received about him. According to the French news agency, these picture show Robert Levinson in an orange uniform like that worn in the American prison of Guantanamo, with long white hair and beard. In this picture Levinson is holding two white sheets of paper, on one it is written in black: “I’m here, at Guantanamo, Do you know where that is?” On the other paper it is written:”Why can’t you help me?” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15958'> John Kerry, the Secretary of State of the United States, at the time, requested, in a statement, Iran’s cooperation with Washington in returning home two citizens who had been arrested there and another citizen who has disappeared since 2007 (Robert Levinson) </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15963'> The FBI announced, in a published statement, that as of November 25th, Robert Levinson’s has been “held hostage” longer than any other American </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15947'> According to a report by Associated Press, Robert Levinson, an American citizen, disappeared in Iran seven years ago, he worked for the CIA. According to this report, a number of CIA researchers sent Robert Levinson on an “unofficial mission” to Kish island. They used “researching cigarette smuggling” as a cover for the mission. CIA paid around 2.5 million dollars to the family of Mr. Levinson as settlement, so they would be discouraged from pursual of the case </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15966'> Reuters new agency, writes, quoting the family lawyer, that he was in the process of researching “money laundering by the Islamic Republic authorities and manner of transfer of the income from oil of Iran to Canada” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15960'> Press secretary of the Iranian delegation at the United Nations asked America to explain the mission of a “former agent” of the FBI, who had disappeared, a few years ago, in Iran. The press secretary writes, that the US government, “should explain Robert Levinson’s mission on Iranian soil. They are responsible and should be held accountable” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15946'> According to a report by Radio Farda, Davood Salaheddin, has told “The Christian Science Monitor”, that Robert Levinson, an ex-FBI agent, it has recently been announced, was a CIA agent at the time of his disappearance in Iran. In 2006, he was arrested on Kish island by IRI agents. Salaheddin claims that Mr. Levinson was arrested because of his meeting with him. Levinson wanted to employ him as an informant when the agents arrived. He said, “They took me, we were in the lobby of Hotel Maryam, we were about to leave, Levinson was surrounded by four Iranian policemen.” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15956'> FBI raised the amount of prize money, for any information about Levinson, to five million dollars </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15957'> At the same time as the imposition and the suspension of sanctions against Iran, five American prisoners in Iran were freed in return for the freedom of several Iranian prisoners in America. After these individuals left Iranian borders, a White House spokesperson announced that the US government believes that Mr. Levinson is no longer in Iran </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15961'> New York Times reported that newly released evidence shows that Iranian authorities were aware of his situation. The New York Times, quoting the documents, claims that in the end of 2011, a prominent Iranian diplomat (Saeed Mehdi Mir Aboutalebi, the ambassador to France at the time), confirmed, “His country has Levinson under arrest and if America helps in delaying the publishing of the critical analysis of Iranian atomic activity, he will free him” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15948'> The members of his family wrote a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, requesting his help in to find and return Robert Levinson to America </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15959'> On the occasion of the anniversary of the disappearance of Robert Levinson, his family expressed their hope, in a statement, that the government of Mr. Trump succeeds in returning to his family, this American citizen who is now 67 years old </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15949'> On this, the anniversary of the his disappearance, the US State Department, FBI, and the White House, said in different statements that they would, “ return him” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='15965'> His family announced that they had filed a complaint against the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to David McGee, Robert Levinson’s family lawyer, that the plaintiffs in this case, had mentioned, in the text of the complaint, “the lies and dishonesty of Tehran regarding the imprisonment of Robert Levinson” </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='16499'> Some of the representatives of the Republican and Democratic parties of America, asked president Trump’s government to pressure Iran to release American citizens or permanent residents: Siamak Namazi, Mohammad Bagher Namazi, Nizar Zakka, Afarin Nassiri, Robert Levinson and Karen Vafadari. One other person has been named in this bi-partisan statement but the name has been withheld because of the family’s wishes </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='20444'> “Asr-e-Iran” reported that the US government issued a statement calling for the release of American prisoners in Iran. The statement states that "for forty years, hostage-taking has been used as a political solution in Iran, and the latest example is the 10-year prison sentence for Xiyue Wang." The statement warned Iran that it would be "punished" if it refrained from releasing prisoners. Mr Trump also called for the release of Robert Levinson. Shortly thereafter, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the White House statement as "interference in internal affairs" and called on the United States to release Iranian prisoners. Mr. Ghasemi also said that the Islamic Republic "does not have any new knowledge" about the fate of Robert Levinson </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='19708'> The American Senate passed Resolution 245 asking the government to prioritize the freedom of “American hostages” in Iran. At the same time, Thomas Reuters Foundation published an official letter denying the claim that Ms Zaghari was “teaching journalism”. IPA will, from now on, not record the opinions of political figures and human rights groups in connection with this case in this profile page, rather, it will, only on special occasions, record the statement of human rights organizations and politicians </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='29888'> <reference source='https://www.facebook.com/helpboblevinson/posts/2790703337684543?__tn__=K-R'> His family wrote on "Help Bob Levinson" Facebook page that he has passed away in detention in Iran </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>