WASHINGTON: The Treasury Department sanctioned three Iranian intelligence officials for involvement in Robert Levinson’s abduction and probable death.
The sanctioned individuals are Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar, all linked to Iran’s intelligence agency.
This move follows previous 2020 sanctions on two other Iranian officials for their roles in Levinson’s disappearance.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned Iran’s actions, calling Levinson’s case a “blight” on Iran’s human rights record.
FBI Director Kash Patel reaffirmed commitment to holding Iran accountable and providing answers to Levinson’s family.
Iran’s Role
Levinson, a former FBI agent, was abducted in Iran, and officials believe he likely died in Iranian custody.
Iranian intelligence officers allegedly attempted to shift blame to Pakistani militants to cover up their involvement.
Gholamhossein Mohammadnia tried to attribute Levinson’s abduction to a terrorist group in Pakistan’s Baluchistan region.
Reza Amiri Moghadam, now Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, reportedly played a key role in obscuring Iran’s role.
Taqi Daneshvar oversaw Iranian intelligence operations when Levinson disappeared from Kish Island in 2007.
Executive Order
The sanctions fall under Executive Order 14078, which targets hostage-takers and foreign states involved in wrongful detentions.
MOIS was previously sanctioned for detaining U.S. citizens, including Levinson, with authorization from senior Iranian officials.
The U.S. State Department has offered a $20 million reward for information on Levinson’s location or those responsible.
These sanctions block the designated individuals’ assets in the U.S. and restrict transactions involving them.
U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from engaging with the sanctioned individuals without specific government authorization.
Implications
Any entity with 50% or more ownership by these sanctioned individuals is also blocked under U.S. law.
Non-U.S. persons engaging in certain transactions with these individuals could face secondary sanctions.
OFAC, which enforces economic sanctions, warns of civil and criminal penalties for violations.
Treasury emphasized that sanctions are meant to prompt behavior change, not just serve as punishment.
The agency allows sanctioned individuals to petition for removal from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
Continuing Efforts
Levinson’s family has pushed for more accountability and transparency regarding his disappearance.
The U.S. government continues to pressure Iran to disclose more information about Levinson’s fate.
These new sanctions demonstrate ongoing efforts to identify all Iranian officials involved in the case.
Security analysts believe these sanctions send a strong message about wrongful detentions by foreign states.
U.S. officials say they will not stop until all responsible individuals face consequences for Levinson’s abduction.
