US sanctions 3 Iranian officials allegedly involved in death of FBI agent

The United States has imposed heavy sanctions on three Iranian intelligence officers for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson.

The US Treasury and State departments revealed the sanctions in a press release on Tuesday

The sanctions on Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security are said to be the latest linked to the disappearance of the former FBI agent, who Washington believes was abducted in Iran and died in captivity.

As a result of the sanctions, any property of the men under US jurisdiction must be blocked and Americans are generally barred from dealing with them.

Foreign persons also risk being blacklisted for dealing with them.

“Iran’s treatment of Mr. Levinson remains a blight on Iran’s already grim record of human rights abuse. The Department of the Treasury will continue to work with U.S. government partners to identify those responsible and shine a light on their abhorrent behavior,”; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Levinson, who was working as a private investigator, reportedly disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran for a meeting seeking information on alleged corruption involving former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

According to the Treasury Department, the three sanctioned individuals all played a role in Levinson's abduction, detention and probable death, as well as efforts to cover up Iran's responsibility.

The sanctions are reportedly being imposed under an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden, which seeks to hold to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups and other malicious actors who take hostages for financial or political gain.