Latest news with #RezaAmiriMoghadam
Economic Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Iran or US? Pakistan lands in a catch-22 situation as Iranian ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam is 'most wanted' by FBI
ANI Reza Amiri Moghadam (M). Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US has named three senior Iranian intelligence officers in connection with the 2007 abduction of retired FBI agent Robert A "Bob" Levinson from Kish Island in Iran, the US federal agency said in a statement. The three men identified are Reza Amiri Moghadam, Taghi Daneshvar and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia. The FBI's Washington Field Office said the trio played key roles in Levinson's kidnapping and in efforts to hide Iran's involvement. Reza Amiri Moghadam, an official of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, is wanted for questioning based on his alleged involvement in the abduction, detention, and probable death of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson. Pakistan Link Reza Amiri Moghadam, now serving as Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, previously led operations for the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The FBI says he was in charge of agents in Europe at the time Levinson disappeared, the FBI statement added. Reza Amiri Moghadam, an official of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, is wanted for questioning based on his alleged involvement in the abduction, detention, and probable death of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson: — FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) July 15, 2025 It is extremely rare for a nation to publicly issue a 'wanted' notice targeting an ambassador of another country, particularly when relations between the involved nations are not openly hostile. Such an action is not only diplomatically provocative but also places both the ambassador and the host country in a deeply awkward position, potentially straining otherwise stable international ties. In March 2025, the US Treasury Department sanctioned all three officials including Reza Amiri Foreign Ministry is yet to make any concrete statement regarding Reza Amiri Moghadam even though Ministry's spokesperson Shafqat Khan has spoken very highly about the Iran's ambassador to which shares border with Iran, has a sizeable Shia even as it is majority Sunni state. Iran is a Shia state but holds influence over the sect's population in Pakistan. However, going by the Islamabad's reactions, it seems that authority in Pakistan does not want to be seen as hostile state in front of President Donald Trump. Thus the Reza Amiri Moghadam issue has become a catch-22 situation for Pakistan. The FBI believes that Iranian intelligence services not only carried out the abduction but also spread false information to escape Daneshvar, who is known by several aliases, is another senior MOIS officer. He reportedly oversaw Mohammad Baseri, an MOIS officer who was sanctioned by the US earlier, during the time Levinson went third officer, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, was Iran's ambassador to Albania. He was expelled from the country in 2018 for actions deemed harmful to Albania's national security. The FBI says he tried to shift blame for Levinson's disappearance onto a terrorist group in FBI is now offering a reward of up to 5 million US dollars for any information that could help locate Levinson or identify those responsible. The US State Department is offering a separate reward of up to 20 million US dollars for information that leads to Levinson's retired from the FBI in 1998. He was last seen on Kish Island in March 2007. While Iran has repeatedly denied involvement, US officials maintain that top Iranian intelligence officers planned the abduction and attempted to cover it up using disinformation. Q1. Who is President of USA?A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. Who is Reza Amiri Moghadam - wanted by FBI? A2. Reza Amiri Moghadam, now serving as Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, previously led operations for the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran or US? Pakistan lands in a catch-22 situation as Iranian ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam is 'most wanted' by FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US has named three senior Iranian intelligence officers in connection with the 2007 abduction of retired FBI agent Robert A "Bob" Levinson from Kish Island in Iran, the US federal agency said in a statement. The three men identified are Reza Amiri Moghadam , Taghi Daneshvar and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia. The FBI's Washington Field Office said the trio played key roles in Levinson's kidnapping and in efforts to hide Iran's involvement. Reza Amiri Moghadam, an official of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, is wanted for questioning based on his alleged involvement in the abduction, detention, and probable death of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson. Pakistan Link Reza Amiri Moghadam, now serving as Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, previously led operations for the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The FBI says he was in charge of agents in Europe at the time Levinson disappeared, the FBI statement added. Reza Amiri Moghadam, an official of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, is wanted for questioning based on his alleged involvement in the abduction, detention, and probable death of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson: — FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) July 15, 2025 It is extremely rare for a nation to publicly issue a 'wanted' notice targeting an ambassador of another country, particularly when relations between the involved nations are not openly hostile. Such an action is not only diplomatically provocative but also places both the ambassador and the host country in a deeply awkward position, potentially straining otherwise stable international ties. Live Events In March 2025, the US Treasury Department sanctioned all three officials including Reza Amiri Moghadam. Pakistan Foreign Ministry is yet to make any concrete statement regarding Reza Amiri Moghadam even though Ministry's spokesperson Shafqat Khan has spoken very highly about the Iran's ambassador to Pakistan. Pakistan, which shares border with Iran, has a sizeable Shia even as it is majority Sunni state. Iran is a Shia state but holds influence over the sect's population in Pakistan. However, going by the Islamabad's reactions, it seems that authority in Pakistan does not want to be seen as hostile state in front of President Donald Trump. Thus the Reza Amiri Moghadam issue has become a catch-22 situation for Pakistan. USA vs Iran The FBI believes that Iranian intelligence services not only carried out the abduction but also spread false information to escape responsibility. Taghi Daneshvar, who is known by several aliases, is another senior MOIS officer. He reportedly oversaw Mohammad Baseri, an MOIS officer who was sanctioned by the US earlier, during the time Levinson went missing. The third officer, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, was Iran's ambassador to Albania. He was expelled from the country in 2018 for actions deemed harmful to Albania's national security. The FBI says he tried to shift blame for Levinson's disappearance onto a terrorist group in Pakistan. The FBI is now offering a reward of up to 5 million US dollars for any information that could help locate Levinson or identify those responsible. The US State Department is offering a separate reward of up to 20 million US dollars for information that leads to Levinson's recovery. Levinson retired from the FBI in 1998. He was last seen on Kish Island in March 2007. While Iran has repeatedly denied involvement, US officials maintain that top Iranian intelligence officers planned the abduction and attempted to cover it up using disinformation. FAQs Q1. Who is President of USA? A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. Who is Reza Amiri Moghadam - wanted by FBI? A2. Reza Amiri Moghadam, now serving as Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, previously led operations for the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
FBI adds Iran's ambassador to Pakistan to most-wanted list over 2007 agent abduction
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday added Iran's current ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, to its list of most wanted individuals, accusing him and two other Iranian officials of involvement in the 2007 abduction of a retired special agent from Iran's Kish Island. The FBI said the release of 'Seeking Information' posters featuring the three senior Iranian officials was part of its ongoing investigation into Robert A. 'Bob' Levinson's disappearance and Iran's alleged efforts to conceal its responsibility. The other two named individuals are Taghi Daneshvar, identified as a counterespionage officer in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, a senior MOIS deputy who served as Iran's ambassador to Albania before being expelled in 2018. 'These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob's 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government,' Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in the statement. 'Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues.' 'The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions,' he added. According to the FBI, Moghadam, also known as Ahmad Amirinia, led MOIS's operations unit at the time of Levinson's abduction. The agency said European-based MOIS agents reported to him in Tehran. The statement said authorities in Tehran attempted to shift blame for the FBI agent's abduction onto a militant group operating in Pakistan's Balochistan region. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to Levinson's location, recovery and return. In addition, the US State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $20 million for relevant information in the case.
UPI
15-07-2025
- Politics
- UPI
FBI seeks info on three Iranian intelligence officers
1 of 3 | The FBI on Tuesday issued a poster seeking information on Reza Amiri Moghadam. Image Courtesy of the FBI July 15 (UPI) -- The FBI is seeking information on three Iranian intelligence officers accused of abducting retired FBI special agent Robert A. "Bob" Levinson in 2007. The three intelligence officers are Reza Amiri Moghadam, Taghi Daneshvar and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, all of whom were highly placed in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and are accused of playing roles in Levinson's March 9, 2007, abduction and eventual death. "These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob's 2007 abduction and the subsequent coverup by the Iranian government," said Steven Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. "The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions," Jensen said. Levinson's family in March 2020 announced the U.S. government had informed them of Levinson's death, but they do not know how or when he died. The Iranian government denied knowledge of Levinson's whereabouts for nearly 18 years despite senior intelligence officials authorizing his abduction and detention, according to the FBI. The bureau says the Iranian government also launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame from the Iranian regime. In response, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control in March sanctioned Moghadam, Daneshvar and Mohammadnia for their roles in Levinson's abduction. The FBI on Tuesday produced posters on each of the three men and is offering a $5 million reward for information on Levinson's location and leading to the recovery and return of his body. The State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering an additional, up to $20 million reward for information that leads to Levinson's location, recovery and return. Anyone who has information about Levinson or any Iranian officials who might have had a role in his abduction can send an email to levinsonfbireward@ or submit a tip online at Individuals also can contact their local FBI office of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to submit relevant information.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
FBI releases new images of Iran intel officers allegedly involved in Robert Levinson abduction
Federal authorities on Tuesday released new images of three Iranian intelligence officers allegedly involved in the abduction of retired FBI special agent Robert Levinson. Each attached to a seeking information poster, the images of Reza Amiri Moghadam, Taghi Daneshvar and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia are part of an extensive investigation into Levinson's disappearance in 2007, the FBI's Washington field office said. Moghadam is the current Iranian ambassador to Pakistan and previously led the operations unit of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security in Tehran, an agency whose members the FBI has accused of helping orchestrate Levinson's abduction. Daneshvar is described by the FBI as a high-ranking officer in the Iranian intelligence ministry involved in counterespionage activities. Around the time Levinson disappeared, he allegedly oversaw the work of Mohammad Baseri, another Iranian intelligence officer whom the United States government has accused in the abduction. Mohammadnia is a senior deputy in the intelligence ministry who served as the Iranian ambassador to Albania in 2016, before being expelled from Albania two years later for "damaging its national security," according to the FBI. The U.S. agency said Mohammadnia led an initiative to blame Levinson's disappearance "on a terrorist group in Pakistan's Baluchistan region to shift blame away from the Iranian government." "These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob's 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government. Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues," said Steven Jenson, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington office, in a statement. "The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions." The U.S. has maintained a view since Levinson vanished that the retired agent was kidnapped during an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran, and subsequently detained wrongfully by the Iranian government. Levinson was believed to be alive for years, until U.S. officials in 2020 said intelligence indicated he may actually have been dead "for some time." Moghadam, Daneshvar and Mohammadnia were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in March for allegedly playing a role in Levinson's "abduction, probable death, and Iran's efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility," the federal agency said in an announcement at the time. The latest seeking information posters followed two others released by the FBI in December, for Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, both Iranian senior intelligence officers thought to be responsible for Levinson's abduction, detention and probable death. Federal authorities have described the men as high-ranking officers in the Iranian intelligence ministry. Both also were sanctioned by the U.S. government.
