Former FBI Agent on Private Business in Iran Missing *Update*

Iran says it will look for the missing man:

Iran to Look for Missing U.S. Man

Iran said Wednesday it will look into the disappearance of an American man in Iran, a State Department spokesman said. The missing man has been identified as a former FBI agent.

Iran replied to a U.S. request for information or help, and asked for additional details about the missing man's travel itinerary, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said. The response came through Swiss intermediaries in Iran.

"We'll see if they come up with anything, but they certainly didn't have any specific information," about the man, Casey said.

The United States and Iran have no diplomatic relations, but do exchange information through neutral Swiss diplomats.

Reports on TV hinted that Levinson could be in Dubai as that is the last contact his wife had with him before his disappearance this report denies his having disappeared in Dubai and even challenges reports that the FBI has even contacted Dubai.

Ex-FBI Mob Specialist Mystery

The disappearance of a "maverick" former FBI agent has left police and intelligence agencies confused.

Mafia specialist, Robert Levinson, was last seen on Kish Island and was believed to be in Dubai. However, senior police officials in the UAE claim to have no knowledge of Levinson.

The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi has contacted Iran in an attempt to find the missing citizen.

Brigadier Khamis Mattar Al Muzainah has denied reports claiming that officials from the USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation are in the UAE looking for a former agent who is said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

I am not familiar with the source just posting FYI

I wonder if Mr. Levinson while may have been a former FBI agent might have retired and went to work for another intelligence agency not of this country. They wouldn't exactly be lying when they say that he no longer has ties to the FBI.

As I was channel surfing, I caught this story of FOX news, of all places. The Greta chick that talks outta the side of her mouth was interviewing someone about this guy. I guess he was working private security for some small film company when he went missing. Greta was trying to imply that he was doing some kind of freelance spy work but the lady she was interviewing would keep shutting her down every time Greta tried to tie his disappearance to him spying in Iran.

Pretty funny stuff, but that is what you usually can expect from FOX.

Fox News reporting that Levinson is being held captive by Iranian Security,

William Gavin, was discussing this on a live report.

I will try to find this in print.

Only report I have found concerning Levinson's possible detainment in Iran, I am not familiar with the source but the article does have some interesting angles on why this man could be in Iranian hands.

Missing American in Iran being "Detained": The Spying, Antisemitism, or Counterfeiting Connection?

The truth of the matter is he has been in the hands of Iranian security forces since the early hours of March 9, and his inability to communicate with his family or his company, has raised the alarm about his health, safety and whereabouts. Speaking to PRESS TV on condition of anonymity the sources made clear that aside from the obvious inconvenience, the person is being well looked after.....

The sources also said that the matter, though routine, has been complicated by the mounting tensions stemming from repeated American threats against Iran, actual ongoing covert actions within Iran run by the Americans and the particulars of the man's background with the FBI.....

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
Only report I have found concerning Levinson's possible detainment in Iran, I am not familiar with the source but the article does have some interesting angles on why this man could be in Iranian hands.

Jack
that seems only to be a blog site of some sort. I think its more the authors opinion then anything.


Pie

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
Jack
that seems only to be a blog site of some sort. I think its more the authors opinion then anything.
Pie

Yeah I know but with FOX hinting at this it made me wonder if this might be where they got their info.

I try to report what I see, unbiased, and let you "well spoken" members attack the validity, I love to see the debate, sometimes I'll have something to say but, I must need to start running 5 miles every morning to build up enough wind to match up with you and others here.

I still haven't found another article on the claim, but you know JacKatMtn is searching.....

The Washington Post appears to have picked up on the Iranian based PressTV statement.

an Iranian news organization reported that he was picked up by Iranian security forces on March 9.

Today's Wayne Madsen Report waynemadsenreport.com... suggests that Levinsen may have been in the region on the trail of missing nukes, that go back to 3 "Broken Arrows" in 1991. It also factors in Somalia, Iraq, North Korea, and a host of other players that take interest when somebody else goes 'oops'.

It's worth a read, as Madsen often comes up with some interesting subscripts to world affairs and current events.

I just found out about this and an deeply concerned.

I went to college with three of his daughters. Heck, asked one of them out on a date. Another is married to an old roomate and fraternity brother of mine. They just had their first child, and his first grand child. My fiancee was sorority sisters with his three girls.

I was floored. I had no idea what their dad did. I mean, how often does something like that come up.

A fraternity brother of mine works in DC for a congresswoman from Florida. We have another fraternity brother of ours that works for the FBI. He contacted my buddy when the name because public. We can't believe it.

Turns out Levinson was involved with helping take down Noriega too. I mean, wow.

I'm hoping that some of the other stuff I've read, as well as the murmur from DC, that he was picked up by the Russians, with help from Iranian cops. Levinson helped bust a lot of Russian crime operations and it would make sense he was a continued target of them.

This is all crazy. Here I was reading headlines that an ex-FBI agent was missing and never clicked on a link. Then, I find out it's the father of an old friend of mine. Just crazy, crazy stuff.

The mystery contnues in the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson who went missing in early March. Iran has pledged to look for Levinson, though, in this story a man who claims to have shared a hotel room the night before his disappearance thinks that Iran knows where Levinson is.

Former FBI agent held in Iran, associate tells FT

The Financial Times quoted Dawud Salahuddin -- himself a U.S. citizen wanted by U.S. authorities for an alleged murder in 1980 -- as saying he and Levinson had shared a hotel room on the Gulf island of Kish on March 8.

Iranian officials in plain clothes came to the room and detained and questioned Salahuddin about his Iranian passport, Salahuddin said. On his release a day later Levinson had disappeared, and the Iranian officials told Salahuddin he had left Iran.

"I don't think he is missing, but don't want to point my finger at anyone. Some people know exactly where he is," Salahuddin told the newspaper. "He came only to see me."

News is very slow in the case of missing former FBI agent Robert Levinson, in this new article it seems that the US is asking other (unnamed) nations to help in locating the man who went missing in Iran on March 8.

LINK

U.S. officials have said they believe he is in Iran but have no credible information about his exact whereabouts. It is not clear why Levinson visited Iran.

Diplomats fear the case of Levinson could mark a new twist in a series of detentions involving the United States, Britain and Iran, which began with the holding of five Iranians by U.S. forces in Iraq in January and the capture by Iran of 15 British sailors who were freed earlier this month.

In this Reuters report, Iran says they have no idea of his whereabouts, and the US is asking other countries to intervene.

An interesting bit of info in the article i will post here:

Reuters

The case concerning Levinson is murky, with contradictory versions of events. But U.S. officials say they have no credible evidence yet to determine what may have happened to Levinson or whether he could be in Iranian custody.

Before going to Kish, Levinson visited the U.S. consulate in Dubai but details have not been given of that meeting. However, the State Department insists Levinson went to Iran on private business and was not working for the U.S. government.

Bold:mine

This is the first time I have read that Levinson visited the US consulate in Dubai prior to ging to Kish, the plot thickens.

Just got the word...he's coming home. Official statement should be made in a day or so. I believe he was handed over at the Iran/Iraq border and is currently in US custody. I assume he'll be taken to the green zone, checked up at a base, debriefed, and then taken home.

Mother...nevermind. There appears to have been some incorrect information passed on. The reports received may not be correct. I don't know how this stuff works, but my friends family went from jubilation to depression in an hour.

This has been one crazy story, the latest news from Iran press is that Robert Levinson is safe, and there was a media blackout on the news which is supposed to be officialy announced after the mideast summit.

Originally Iran said they would look for Levinson who went missing on March 8, after a request from the US through Swiss channels, nearly a month after the former FBI agent went missing. This was during the UK 15 captive situation, Iran then said they had no evidence that Levinson was in Iran.

Iran now has released him, some reports say he was turned over to the Kurds in northern Iraq after Iran cleared Levinson of possible espionage after Robert met with Dawud Salahuddin, a fugitive wanted in the US for murder.

Rumors also persist that a possible release of the captured Iran 5, held by the US may have been part of deal brokered to gain Levinson's freedom.

We will have to see what happens in the next couple of weeks and see if this rumor has some truth to it.

There is definitely something going on here that is not seeing the light of day.

Ex-FBI man returns to US from Iran
Reports: Missing FBI Agent Robert Levinson Released by Iranians
Levinson May Be In Iraq; Release Will Be Announced After Summit

Originally posted by cavscout

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
A formal letter delivered to Iran through Swiss channels requesting information?

Great, so now the world has turned into some dysfunctional sitcom?

This had me chuckling.



*sitting around diner table*

U.S.: "Swiss, can you please ask Iran to pass the salt?"

Swiss: "Iran, the US would like you to pass the.....

Iran: "I heard them! Tell them if they aren’t talking to me, then they can get their own damn salt."

Swiss: "Iran says that if ..."

US: "You tell Iran that I don’t want to talk to them if they don’t even care enough to pass me a little salt!"

Swiss: "I hate you two! All you do is argue!" (runs to room crying)

[edit on 2-4-2007 by cavscout]

Lmao. You made my day sir. ;]

But as a swiss it still is pretty frightening. I absolutely forgot about our legendary swiss diplomacy. And shows how closely we are involved in the General NWO Drama. All parties closely woven together. Not even talking about "banks".

They should have left him rot in prisons over there.

After all it's private business. So he shouldn't be treated any better than they treat us regular citizens. And who can proove that he is really doing private business? He might be enganging missions in Iran for US purpose, and they only tell us that he had private business, to cover-up their secret little operations in Iran.

Anyway..

[edit on 4-5-2007 by osram]

Originally posted by osram

They should have left him rot in prisons over there.

And can I ask why?

After all it's private business. So he shouldn't be treated any better than they treat us regular citizens.

So, you're telling me that if you were arrested in another country, that your country should just leave you there and say "Sorry man, sucks for you." That's not how it works

And who can proove that he is really doing private business?

Um, isn't it supposed to be the other way around. They have to prove that he WASN'T doing private business. Fact is, he's been doing this job in the private sector for a while now, and it can be shown. Besides, he wasn't a field agent, he worked from the desk.

He might be enganging missions in Iran for US purpose, and they only tell us that he had private business, to cover-up their secret little operations in Iran.

Perhaps, but highly unlikely. As I said, he's been doing his job in the private sector for a while.

Don't be so quick to trash on someone. This is a real person we're talking about, not some fabricated "agent." He's done good work for the states, good decent work, and doesn't deserve to have to deal with this stuff.

This is a real person we're talking about, not some fabricated "agent." He's done good work for the states, good decent work, and doesn't deserve to have to deal with this stuff.

Maybe you can pass along regards to the family...tell them there are a lot of people aware of their concerns and hoping all turns out well.