US Offers $25 Million Reward for Two Iranian Intelligence Officials

The FBI has released images of two senior Iranian intelligence officers involved in the abduction of Robert (Bob) Levinson, a retired special agent, from Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007. The FBI states that these two intelligence officers, named Mohammad Baasiri and Ahmad Khazaei, played roles in the abduction, detention, and possible death of Levinson while serving as officials in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. The FBI announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Levinson's whereabouts, recovery, and return. The State Department's 'Rewards for Justice' program has also set a reward of up to $20 million for such information. Sanjay Wirmani, head of the FBI's counterterrorism division in Washington, emphasized that the FBI's extensive investigation to find new leads and information continues, and they will pursue all options to hold accountable any Iranian official involved in Levinson's abduction. The FBI stated that despite senior Iranian intelligence officials authorizing Levinson's abduction and detention, the Iranian government has denied having any information about Levinson's possible location for about 18 years and attempted to divert attention from its regime's role in the incident by launching a misinformation campaign. In December 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned these two Iranian intelligence officers for their involvement in Levinson's abduction. According to the department's announcement, Baasiri has been involved in 'counterintelligence' activities inside and outside Iran and has collaborated directly with intelligence officials from other countries to harm U.S. interests. Reactions continue to emerge on the fifteenth anniversary of Levinson's disappearance in Iran: the Iranian regime must be held accountable. Robert Malley has called on Iran to be accountable for Levinson's abduction, and the U.S. Secretary of State stated that the United States will never forget Bob Levinson.