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U.S. Sanctions three Iranian officials accused of involvement in the death of FBI Agent Robert Levinson

In press releases issued on Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department and the State Department announced that the United States had imposed sanctions against three Iranian intelligence officers over their alleged involvement with the disappearance former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson.

The latest sanctions against Reza Amiri, Gholamhossein, and Taqi, Daneshvar of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, are linked to the disappearance of a former FBI agent who Washington believes died in captivity after being abducted by Iranians.

Due to the sanctions, all property owned by the men that is under U.S. jurisdiction has been blocked. Americans are also generally prohibited from dealing with these men. Dealing with these men could also lead to blacklisting of foreigners.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a press release that "Iran's treatment" of Levinson is a stain on Iran's record of human right abuse. The Department of the Treasury is committed to working with U.S. Government partners to identify the perpetrators and bring to light their appalling behavior.

Levinson was a private investigator who disappeared in March 2007, after travelling to an Iranian-controlled island for a meeting. He wanted information about alleged corruption by the former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Treasury Department: The three individuals sanctioned all played a part in Levinson’s abduction, his detention, and likely death as well as the efforts to cover-up Iran’s responsibility.

The sanctions were imposed by an executive order, signed by the former president Joe Biden. It aims to hold terrorist groups, criminal organizations and other "malicious" actors accountable for taking hostages to gain financial or political benefit.

The U.S. has previously sanctioned

Two other Iranian officials

In December 2020, the FBI will reveal who it accuses of being involved in Levinson’s disappearance. (Reporting and editing by Katharine Ricci, Andrea Ricci, and Ryan Patrick Jones)

(source: Reuters)