Renewed Appeal for Information on Robert Levinson’s Disappearance

Almost twenty years after former FBI agent Robert Levinson vanished in Iran, the FBI is once again seeking information as his family and former colleagues search for answers in this prolonged hostage crisis involving Americans.

Recently, FBI Director Kash Patel commemorated the anniversary of Levinson’s disappearance during Hostage and Unlawful Detainer Day, reaffirming the agency’s dedication to uncovering what transpired. “Bob is still as much in our hearts as ever,” Patel expressed in a social media statement. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million, alongside one from the State Department, for any information that could lead to Levinson’s recovery.

Levinson, who also served as a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, was last seen on March 9, 2007, while on Iran’s Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. He holds the unfortunate record of being the longest-serving hostage in U.S. history. His family has long blamed the Iranian regime for his abduction and has fought tirelessly for his return for over a decade.

In 2020, U.S. officials suggested that Levinson likely died while in Iranian custody, although his remains have yet to be found. The case remains particularly personal for Chris Swecker, a former FBI Assistant Director who worked alongside Levinson. Swecker recalls, “I met Bobby Levinson when I transferred to Miami in 1987. He was somewhat of an iconic agent on the team because he played a crucial role in developing cooperative cartel members and informants.”

Levinson was well-regarded in the bureau for his skill in cultivating sources within criminal networks. Before his time at the FBI, he worked with the DEA and was known as a veteran investigator who preferred fieldwork over management roles. Swecker describes him as a serious, 6-foot-3 agent, deeply committed to both his profession and his family.

At 58, Levinson visited Kish in 2007 as a private investigator, reportedly involved in an unauthorized CIA operation. A source familiar with the case mentioned in 2016 that Levinson had met with Daoud Salahuddin, an American fugitive sought by the CIA, soon after arriving. Salahuddin was wanted for the murder of an Iranian diplomat in 1980, and Levinson hoped this mission would lead to permanent employment with the CIA.

But Levinson disappeared shortly after, with Iran consistently denying any knowledge of his whereabouts or involvement in his case. “I eventually heard that he was hired on a contract with an agency,” said a source. “Going to Kish with his background is a real risk.”

Despite Iran’s long-standing denial of responsibility, U.S. officials assert there is evidence suggesting Iranian authorities are involved in holding Levinson. In 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Iranian intelligence officials linked to Levinson’s disappearance and its cover-up.