FBI Offers Reward for Information on Robert Levinson and Two Iranian Intelligence Officers

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the recovery of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who was abducted in Kish Island, Iran. The announcement included images and names of two senior Iranian security officers, Mohammad Basiri and Ahmad Khazaei, who are believed to have played a role in Levinson's abduction, detention, and likely death. Sanjay Wirmani, a special agent in the FBI's Washington field office, stated that the agency remains committed to bringing Levinson back to his family and continues to pursue all leads and options to hold accountable any Iranian officials involved in the kidnapping. Levinson disappeared in winter 2006 after flying from Dubai to Kish Island. Previously, the U.S. State Department had offered a $20 million reward for information leading to his whereabouts, but the new FBI statement adds an additional $5 million specifically for information regarding the two Iranian officers. In December 2020, the U.S. sanctioned Basiri and Khazaei for their alleged involvement in Levinson's kidnapping, imprisonment, and possible death, repeatedly demanding credible answers from the Iranian government about Levinson's fate. The FBI's statement also noted that for nearly 18 years, the Iranian government has denied having any knowledge of Levinson's whereabouts and has launched a campaign of misinformation to divert attention from its role in the case. The U.S. claims that all evidence collected so far indicates that Levinson likely died while in Iranian custody. Iranian officials deny these claims, asserting that Levinson left Iran years ago.