The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against two Iranian officials on Monday in connection to the 2007 abduction of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, authorities said.
The announcement targeted Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who are within the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (MOIS), officials said.
“For 13 years, the Iranian government, which continues to take foreigners and dual-nationals hostage as political leverage, has denied knowledge of Mr. Levinson’s whereabouts or condition,” according to a Treasury statement.
“However, senior Iranian officials authorized Levinson’s abduction and detention and launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame from the Iranian regime. The individuals designated today, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Levinson.”
Earlier this year, Levinson’s family said it had “received information from” American officials that he had died in custody.
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
