The United States announced new sanctions on three officials from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) for their involvement in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson, who disappeared in Iran more than 18 years ago.
The sanctions, imposed under Executive Order 14078, target individuals the U.S. government has determined were directly involved in the case, marking the latest step in a long-running effort to hold those responsible accountable. This action builds on the December 2020 designations of MOIS officers Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who were previously sanctioned for their roles in Levinson’s disappearance.
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Levinson, a retired FBI agent and father of seven, vanished in Kish Island, Iran, in March 2007. Despite years of international pressure and diplomatic efforts, his fate remained uncertain until U.S. officials acknowledged in 2020 that he had likely died in Iranian custody.
“Today’s action reaffirms the U.S. government’s unwavering commitment to pursue justice for Robert Levinson and his family,” the State Department said in a statement. “We will continue to identify and expose all those involved in this tragic case.”
The Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), Iran’s primary intelligence agency, has a longstanding record of wrongfully detaining U.S. and other foreign nationals. It has been previously sanctioned under multiple U.S. authorities for its role in unjust imprisonment, hostage-taking, and lethal operations targeting Americans abroad.
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The sanctions come amid heightened U.S. efforts to combat hostage-taking and wrongful detentions by foreign states. Under E.O. 14078, which implements the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, the U.S. can target not only non-state actors like terrorist organizations and criminal groups, but also foreign governments that engage in detention for political leverage or financial gain.
In a separate but related effort, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program continues to offer a reward of up to $20 million for credible information leading to:
- The location, recovery, and return of Robert Levinson,
- And the identification of those responsible for his disappearance.
“We remain committed to securing the release of all U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad,” the statement added. “And we will not rest until they are reunited with their families.”
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Levinson’s family has spent nearly two decades seeking answers and accountability, and today’s sanctions signal the Trump administration’s continuing commitment to pursuing justice in one of the most high-profile unresolved cases involving an American citizen overseas.
The individuals sanctioned today will face asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on doing business with U.S. persons or entities. The names of the newly designated officials have not yet been publicly released due to ongoing investigations.
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