Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan added to US' most wanted list over 2007 'FBI agent abduction'

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation added Iran’s current ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, to its most wanted list on Tuesday, accusing him and two other senior Iranian officials of orchestrating the 2007 abduction of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A. “Bob” Levinson from Iran’s Kish Island.

The FBI said the release of “Seeking Information” posters is part of its ongoing investigation into Levinson’s disappearance and what it described as a cover-up by Iranian authorities.

“These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob’s 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government,” said Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues.”

Jensen added that the agency remains committed to holding those responsible accountable.

Moghadam, also known as Ahmad Amirinia, was allegedly heading the operations unit of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) at the time of Levinson’s disappearance. According to the FBI, MOIS agents based in Europe reported directly to him in Tehran.

The picture posted by FBI on July 15, 2025, shows Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, added to its list of most wanted individuals.Courtesy: FBI

The other two individuals named are Taghi Daneshvar, a high-ranking MOIS counterespionage officer, and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, a senior MOIS deputy who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Albania before being expelled in 2018 for activities deemed damaging to Albania’s national security.

The FBI alleges that Mohammadnia led efforts to blame Levinson’s disappearance on a militant group operating in Pakistan’s Balochistan region, in an attempt to shift responsibility away from the Iranian regime.

The Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam calls on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on March 29, 2024.Courtesy: APP

“For nearly 18 years, the Iranian government has denied knowledge of Bob’s whereabouts despite senior intelligence officials authorizing Bob’s abduction and detention,” the FBI said in its press release. It added that Tehran also launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame.

Pakistan's response

Responding to the development, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, “As far as Pakistan is concerned, the Ambassador of Iran is widely respected for his role in the promotion of Pakistan-Iran relations. He is entitled to all the privileges, immunities, and respect due to an ambassador, especially from a friendly neighboring country.”

What’s the case?

Levinson, who retired from the FBI in 1998, vanished on March 9, 2007, during a trip to Kish Island, a resort area in the Persian Gulf.

Despite numerous international efforts and U.S. government pressure, his whereabouts have never been confirmed. U.S. officials now believe he likely died in captivity.

Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent and DEA agent, who disappeared in Iran since 2007, is shown in this undated handout photo released by the Levinson family.Reuters/File

The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Levinson’s recovery and return. The U.S. State Department is separately offering up to $20 million under its Rewards for Justice program.

In March 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Moghadam, Daneshvar and Mohammadnia for their alleged roles in Levinson’s disappearance. The action followed the 2020 designations of other MOIS officers, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai.

Daneshvar, also known by the aliases Sayyed Taghi Ghaemi and Sayeed Taghi Gha’emi, reportedly oversaw Mohammad Baseri at the time of the abduction.