Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent, disappeared from Iran’s Kish Island on March 9, 2007. He was reportedly investigating cigarette smuggling while working as a private investigator. Levinson’s family first received evidence that he was alive in November 2010. In the 54-second video, Levinson asked for a U.S. government response to his captors' demands, which have not been publicized.
In March 2011, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that new information indicated that Levinson was being held in southwest Asia. His unidentified captors sent a set of photographs to his family the following month. Levinson, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, held a sign bearing a different message in each photo. “This is the result of 30 years serving for USA,” one read.
On March 8, 2013 Secretary of State John Kerry called on Iran to uphold its offer to help find Levinson. Tehran responded two days later. “We are ready to cooperate through the intelligence entities to shed light on this issue,” Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reportedly said. The following is a statement by Secretary Kerry and remarks by Foreign Minister Salehi.
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi
“We have said many times that we do not have any information in this regard…”
“We have repeatedly announced that we are ready to cooperate on humanitarian ground to find… how he disappeared… We are ready to cooperate through the intelligence entities to shed light on this issue. I once again repeat that this person is not in Iran and the Americans have already acknowledged this.” March 10, according to ISNA and IRNA news agencies
Press Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry
March 8, 2013
Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the disappearance of U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent who went missing in Iran on March 9, 2007.
A husband and father to seven children, Mr. Levinson has missed birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other important milestones since his disappearance six years ago from Iran’s Kish Island. He is also the grandfather of two, the second of which was born in his absence.
The United States continues to welcome the assistance of our international partners in this investigation and calls on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold its offer to help find Mr. Levinson and return him safely to his family.
I met with Mr. Levinson’s wife and son today to reiterate that the U.S. Government remains committed to locating Mr. Levinson and reuniting him safely with his family.
Last year the FBI announced a $1 million reward for information on Mr. Levinson’s whereabouts that could lead to his safe return. Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to contact the FBI.
