Latest news with #MinistryofIntelligenceandSecurity
Rudaw Net
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
US sanctions Sweden-based Kurdish gang leader over Iran-linked attacks
Also in World European parliament discusses Syria Flights affected as workers strike at 13 airports in Germany US congressman warns about armed groups ruling Syria Iraq, Sweden move towards reopening Swedish embassy in Baghdad A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Rawa Majid, the Kurdish leader of Foxtrot Network, a transnational criminal organization based in Sweden over his reported involvement in arms and drugs trafficking and cooperation with Iran in 'attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe.' 'The United States is sanctioning the Foxtrot Network, a transnational criminal organization, and its fugitive leader Rawa Majid,' the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, adding that the network 'is involved in arms trafficking and contributes to rising violence in Northern Europe, including shootings, contract killings, and assaults.' Rawa Majid, widely known as the Kurdish Fox, is an Iranian-born Kurdish-Swedish national wanted on multiple charges in Sweden. His group is accused of orchestrating drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and violent crimes such as shootings and contract killings across Northern Europe. The statement additionally accused Iran of 'leveraging the Foxtrot Network to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe, including the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, in January 2024.' It said Majid had cooperated with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security that are already under US sanctions. According to Rubio's statement, the US State and Treasury Department 'will continue to expose and impose costs on the Iranian regime for its malign activities as part of the [US President Donald] Trump Administration's renewed maximum pressure campaigns.' Trump in early February restored the maximum pressure policy against Iran, arguing that Tehran is 'too close' to obtaining nuclear weapons, but expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Iran. In late February, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on over 30 individuals and vessels for their 'involvement' in importing Iranian petroleum-related products. Amid the increased US sanctions, Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that his country will 'not even consider' negotiating under pressure and intimidation. The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February slammed negotiations with the US as 'unwise.'
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FBI seeking info on Iranian intel officers accused in Robert Levinson abduction
Federal authorities have released a pair of seeking information posters for two Iranian intelligence officers accused of authorizing the 2007 abduction of retired FBI special agent Robert Levinson. The posters come as part of a decades-long investigation into Levinson's disappearance, the FBI's Washington field office said Tuesday, noting their "commitment to resolving the case for his long-suffering family." Since Levinson vanished, the United States has maintained the view that he was abducted during an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran and held wrongfully by the Iranian government. The former agent was thought to be alive until U.S. officials said in 2020 that intelligence suggested he may have been dead for "some time." The posters include images of Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, the Iranian senior intelligence officers believed to be responsible for Levinson's abduction, subsequent detention and probable death. The men are described as high-ranking officers in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, according to the FBI. Levinson has not been seen or heard from since March 9, 2007, one day after the retired agent traveled to the Iranian island of Kish, according to the FBI. U.S. officials say Levinson's family received video and photographs of Levinson in anonymous emails several years later, in 2010 and 2011, which showed him in captivity. They ultimately released the footage and an image publicly but could not trace the emails back to their senders. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Baseri and Khazai under the Trump administration in 2020, the first time the country formally blamed Iran for Levinson's disappearance. At the time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Iranian officials "authorized Levinson's abduction and detention and launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame for the regime." His statement identified Baseri and Khazai by name. The U.S. has also accused Iran of sanctioning the scheme that resulted in Levinson's abduction and claimed its government knew the missing agent's location and lied about it for nearly 18 years. Federal officials claim Baseri has been involved in counterespionage activities within and outside of Iran, in addition to sensitive investigations related to Iranian national security, and "has worked directly with intelligence officials from other countries to harm U.S. interests." Khazai has allegedly led Iranian intelligence and security delegations to other countries, the FBI said. The State Department is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information that leads to Levinson's recovery and return, while the FBI put forward a prize of up to $5 million for the same. "The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to return Bob to his family," said Sanjay Virmani, special agent in charge of the counterterrorism division at the FBI's Washington field office, in a statement. "Our extensive investigation continues to develop new leads and intelligence, and we will pursue all options to hold every Iranian official involved in his abduction accountable." Trump's former trade chief on how tariffs affect the economy, why he says the U.S. needs them USAID to merge into State Department with major budget cuts Tulsi Gabbard survives Senate committee vote
CBS News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
FBI seeking information on 2 Iranian intel officers allegedly involved in Robert Levinson abduction
Federal authorities have released a pair of seeking information posters for two Iranian intelligence officers accused of authorizing the 2007 abduction of retired FBI special agent Robert Levinson. The posters come as part of a decades-long investigation into Levinson's disappearance, the FBI's Washington field office said Tuesday, noting their "commitment to resolving the case for his long-suffering family." Since Levinson vanished, the United States has maintained the view that he was abducted during an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran and held wrongfully by the Iranian government. The former agent was thought to be alive until U.S. officials said in 2020 that intelligence suggested he may have been dead for "some time." The posters include images of Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, the Iranian senior intelligence officers believed to be responsible for Levinson's abduction, subsequent detention and probable death. The men are described as high-ranking officers in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, according to the FBI. Levinson has not been seen or heard from since March 9, 2007, one day after the retired agent traveled to the Iranian island of Kish, according to the FBI. U.S. officials say Levinson's family received video and photographs of Levinson in anonymous emails several years later, in 2010 and 2011, which showed him in captivity. They ultimately released the footage and an image publicly but could not trace the emails back to their senders. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Baseri and Khazai under the Trump administration in 2020, the first time the country formally blamed Iran for Levinson's disappearance. At the time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Iranian officials "authorized Levinson's abduction and detention and launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame for the regime." His statement identified Baseri and Khazai by name. The U.S. has also accused Iran of sanctioning the scheme that resulted in Levinson's abduction and claimed its government knew the missing agent's location and lied about it for nearly 18 years. Federal officials claim Baseri has been involved in counterespionage activities within and outside of Iran, in addition to sensitive investigations related to Iranian national security, and "has worked directly with intelligence officials from other countries to harm U.S. interests." Khazai has allegedly led Iranian intelligence and security delegations to other countries, the FBI said. The State Department is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information that leads to Levinson's recovery and return, while the FBI put forward a prize of up to $5 million for the same. "The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to return Bob to his family," said Sanjay Virmani, special agent in charge of the counterterrorism division at the FBI's Washington field office, in a statement. "Our extensive investigation continues to develop new leads and intelligence, and we will pursue all options to hold every Iranian official involved in his abduction accountable."
CNN
04-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Robert Levinson: FBI releases ‘seeking information posters' for two Iranian intelligence officers in case of abducted American
The FBI on Tuesday released 'seeking information posters' for two Iranian intelligence officers who they believe were involved in the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson. The US has previously identified and sanctioned Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai in the disappearance and presumed death of Levinson, and Tuesday's announcement reflects a renewed determination by US authorities to resolve the case. The US government has said Levinson was abducted in Iran in March 2007. In its release on Tuesday, the FBI said Baseri and Khazai acted in their roles as officials in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security during 'Bob's abduction, detention, and probable death.' The bureau reiterated its standing reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to Levinson's 'location, recovery, and return.' The State Department also is offering a reward of up to $20 million for such information. 'Our extensive investigation continues to develop new leads and intelligence, and we will pursue all options to hold every Iranian official involved in his abduction accountable,' said Sanjay Virmani, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Counterterrorism Division. Levinson's family said in 2020 that they believed he was dead after receiving information from US officials and that it was prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The former FBI agent traveled to Kish Island, Iran, in early March 2007, according to State Department officials, and was never publicly seen or heard from again. Iranian officials had long denied that Levinson was ever in the country, claiming there was no proof. However, a United Nations working group said in November 2019 that Iran's Justice Department had acknowledged that there was 'an on-going case in the Public Prosecution and Revolutionary Court of Tehran' for Levinson.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FBI releases ‘seeking information posters' for two Iranian intelligence officers in case of abducted American
The FBI on Tuesday released 'seeking information posters' for two Iranian intelligence officers who they believe were involved in the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson. The US has previously identified and sanctioned Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai in the disappearance and presumed death of Levinson, and Tuesday's announcement reflects a renewed determination by US authorities to resolve the case. The US government has said Levinson was abducted in Iran in March 2007. In its release on Tuesday, the FBI said Baseri and Khazai acted in their roles as officials in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security during 'Bob's abduction, detention, and probable death.' The bureau reiterated its standing reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to Levinson's 'location, recovery, and return.' The State Department also is offering a reward of up to $20 million for such information. 'Our extensive investigation continues to develop new leads and intelligence, and we will pursue all options to hold every Iranian official involved in his abduction accountable,' said Sanjay Virmani, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Counterterrorism Division. Levinson's family said in 2020 that they believed he was dead after receiving information from US officials and that it was prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The former FBI agent traveled to Kish Island, Iran, in early March 2007, according to State Department officials, and was never publicly seen or heard from again. Iranian officials had long denied that Levinson was ever in the country, claiming there was no proof. However, a United Nations working group said in November 2019 that Iran's Justice Department had acknowledged that there was 'an on-going case in the Public Prosecution and Revolutionary Court of Tehran' for Levinson.
