Iran decries US claims of ex-FBI agent’s 2007 disappearance as 'misleading, unjustified'
The spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry has decried as unjustified and misleading the US administration's renewed claims of the involvement of several Iranian citizens in the "disappearance" of former FBI agent Robert Levinson in an unspecified location in Southwest Asia some 18 years ago.
Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday that despite the repetition of claims against Iran regarding Levinson’s case, American officials have consistently evaded providing any credible evidence of his entry into Iran's borders or any incident occurring to him in Iran, merely repeating previous allegations.
Baghaei underlined that accusing Iranian citizens is a stereotypical action by the US admonition to shirk accountability to the American public opinion regarding the realities associated with the ex-FBI agent’s case.
Rejecting any Iranian involvement or knowledge concerning the matter, the spokesman condemned the sanctioning and threatening of Iranian citizens on that pretext as an “arbitrary, illegal, and unjustified act that contradicts the principles and norms of international law, especially human rights rules.”
Baghaei also stated that the US government must be held accountable for such a law-breaking conduct.
Levinson reportedly visited Iran’s southern Kish Island on March 9, 2007. He later went missing and his whereabouts have remained unknown ever since.
The US government had insisted for years that Levinson was working as a private investigator. However, in December 2013, his family admitted that he was working for a rogue CIA operation as a freelance "spy."
Back in 2010, a video was sent to the Levinsons, reportedly showing the man demanding help for his release. Also in early 2011, some of his images were emailed to the family.
The White House said in 2016 that it had “reason to believe” that Levinson was “no longer in Iran,” and apparently had thought so for years.
The FBI has offered a five-million-dollar reward for any information that could lead to Levinson's safe return.
Iran: Undocumented Afghans repatriated in line with international law
Three IRGC soldiers killed in terrorist attack in southern Iran
US military deployment near Venezuela ‘dangerous precedent’: Pezeshkian
Iran returns to IOC leadership after 21 years as Olympian Soraya Aghaei wins seat
Discover Iran: Ziarat village in Golestan, where sacred herritage meets natural wonders
Ansarullah slams UAE-Saudi war between 'once-allied occupiers’ in Yemen
VIDEO | Israel’s economic defeat
US military bill tasks Washington to counter Israel arms embargo
Iran: US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker illegal, ‘piracy in Caribbean Sea’
'Blatant theft': US seizes Venezuelan oil tanker in dramatic escalation
VIDEO | Venezuelans march to support Maduro government in the face of US threats
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
