U.S. Sanctions Iran Over FBI Agent Robert Levinson’s 2007 Abduction

ICBPS- The United States on Monday accused two Iranian intelligence officials of being behind the mysterious 2007 Abduction and probable death of former FBI agent Robert Levinson.

“We know how senior Iranian officials sanctioned Mr. Levinson’s abduction and detention. The regime also took deliberate actions to obfuscate the responsibility through an extensive disinformation campaign. Iranian leaders have lied over and over again,” The NY Post quoted a senior U.S. official.

Levinson, who would be 72, probably died in Iranian detention but the U.S. doesn’t know for sure, officials told reporters.

The two Iranian men, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, work for the Ministry of Intelligence and allegedly ordered Levinson’s detention with involvement from senior members of the theocratic government.

Levinson’s nearly 14-year abduction has long been the subject of intrigue as his family demands answers.

The Treasury Department also said the new sanctions mean that “[a]ll property and interests in property of these persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported” and that US citizens aren’t able to work with the men.

In October, a U.S. court has ordered the government of Iran to pay more than $1.4 billion in punitive and compensatory damages to the family of a former FBI agent Robert Levinson who disappeared during a visit to an Iranian island in March 2007.

In a decision issued late last week, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said that he adopted a special expert’s recommendation that Robert Levinson’s family be awarded $107 million in compensatory damages. The judge awarded punitive damages of $1.3 billion.

In a statement, Levinson’s family welcomed the judge’s ruling.