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Robert Levinson's Lawyer: The Lead in This Case is an American Refugee

Jan 24, 2026 January 24, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Robert Levinson's lawyer claims that a lead in his disappearance case points to an American refugee, but authorities lack his address. Levinson, a former FBI agent, went missing in Iran in 2006, and the U.S. believes he was detained there. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran regarding human rights and accountability.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The unresolved case of Robert Levinson remains a significant diplomatic issue between the U.S. and Iran.

👥 Key Players

Robert Levinson MENTIONED
Former FBI agent
"His disappearance has been a point of contention between the U.S. and Iran, affecting diplomatic relations."
Mohammad Hossein Aghasi MENTIONED
Iranian lawyer for Robert Levinson
"He is actively involved in investigating Levinson's disappearance and has brought new leads to light."
David Theodore Belfield (David Salahuddin) MENTIONED
American refugee and suspect in Levinson's case
"His involvement and past actions are pivotal to understanding the circumstances of Levinson's disappearance."
Mike Pompeo MENTIONED
U.S. Secretary of State
"He represents the U.S. government's stance and pressure on Iran regarding Levinson's case."

📰 What Happened

Robert Levinson's lawyer claims a lead in his disappearance points to an American refugee, but authorities lack his address. Levinson went missing in Iran in 2006, and the U.S. believes he was detained there.

  • Levinson disappeared on Kish Island in 2006.
  • The lead involves David Salahuddin, an American refugee with a controversial past.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The case impacts Iran's international image and its diplomatic relations with the U.S.
🌍 Regional: It highlights ongoing tensions and mistrust between Iran and Western countries.
🌐 International: The case underscores human rights and accountability issues, affecting U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts.

📚 Background

Robert Levinson's disappearance has been a contentious issue between the U.S. and Iran, with allegations of detention by Iranian authorities. The case remains unresolved, affecting diplomatic relations.

U.S.-Iran relations Human rights in Iran
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The source provides an international perspective, focusing on diplomatic tensions and human rights issues.

The Iranian lawyer of Robert Levinson, an American citizen who disappeared in Iran twelve years ago, claims that the 'lead' in this case is 'an American refugee,' but judicial authorities have stated that they do not have the address of this refugee. Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent, went missing in the winter of 2006 after traveling to Kish Island. The U.S. believes that Mr. Levinson was detained in Iran, but Iranian officials say they have no information about his fate. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mr. Levinson's Iranian lawyer, used the term 'abduction' in a tweet on Tuesday, March 12, stating that 'yesterday marked 12 years since his abduction' on Kish Island. He further mentioned that after ten years of insistence, the investigator has finally accepted that the lead in the case is an American refugee and wants to summon him, but 'the responsible authorities say they do not have his address.' In an interview with Radio Farda, Mr. Aghasi provided more details about the case and mentioned an American individual named 'David Salahuddin' who was with Levinson on the night he disappeared on Kish Island. This lawyer claims to have had conversations with this individual and discovered lies in his statements, which he reported to the prosecutor's office. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi emphasized that investigating this person could be crucial, but now that the investigator intends to question him, his address is not available, while organizations related to refugees should have the address of someone like David Salahuddin. David Salahuddin, whose real name is David Theodore Belfield, is accused of the assassination of Ali Akbar Tabatabai, the spokesman of the Iranian embassy in the U.S. during the Pahlavi regime, who was killed about two years after the Iranian revolution in Maryland. Mr. Aghasi ultimately stated that he believes the legitimate Iranian government did not detain Robert Levinson, but that he was somehow abducted. Recently, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, once again urged Iran to return Mr. Levinson to his family.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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