The United States announced today the sanctioning of three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials implicated in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson. The move, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State, targets individuals tied to the long-standing case of Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007.
According to Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the initiative, this action builds on the December 2020 designations of MOIS officers Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai for their roles in Levinson’s ordeal. "The United States remains committed to identifying all those responsible," Bruce stated, emphasizing ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved in the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals.
The sanctions are enacted under Executive Order 14078, which supports the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. This legislation targets terrorist groups, criminal entities, and foreign states engaging in hostage-taking or wrongful detentions for political leverage. Iran’s MOIS, known for its history of detaining U.S. citizens unjustly, has faced multiple U.S. sanctions over the years.
The U.S. continues its push to secure the release of all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained globally. Since 2019, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has offered up to $20 million for information leading to Levinson’s recovery or the identification of those behind his disappearance.
This latest step underscores Washington’s condemnation of Iran’s pattern of abductions and lethal actions against U.S. citizens, signaling a firm stance against such violations of international norms.