USA, July17,2025
In a major international development, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has placed Reza Amiri Moghaddam—currently serving as Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan—on its Most Wanted list. The FBI alleges that Moghaddam, along with two other Iranian nationals, was involved in the 2007 abduction of retired American FBI agent Robert A. “Bob” Levinson in Iran.
The Allegations
According to a detailed statement released by the FBI, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, along with Taqi Daneshvar and Gholam-Hossein Mohammadnia, are believed to be operatives of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The trio is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of Agent Levinson, who disappeared on March 9, 2007, from Kish Island, Iran.
The FBI claims that all three officials were not only involved in the abduction but also played key roles in covering up the operation and attempting to shift the blame to other entities.
Background on Bob Levinson
Robert “Bob” Levinson was a retired special agent with 28 years of service in the U.S. Department of Justice. After his retirement from the FBI in 1998, he worked as a private investigator. Levinson had traveled to Iran’s Kish Island on March 8, 2007, reportedly on behalf of several large corporations. He vanished the next day, and no conclusive information has emerged about his fate since.
A video released years later by his son, David Levinson, showed Bob alive in captivity, stating, “I have been held for three and a half years.” In the video, Levinson pleads with the U.S. government to respond to his captors.
Despite years of investigation and diplomacy, the U.S. government has never disclosed what Levinson was specifically doing in Iran or the nature of his assignment.
FBI’s Position and Rewards
Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, stated that these three Iranian intelligence officers were actively involved in the kidnapping and the cover-up operation led by the Iranian regime. Jensen also suggested the possibility that Levinson was killed while in captivity, far away from his family and country.
The FBI continues to pursue leads in the case and maintains a $5 million reward for any information that could lead to locating Bob Levinson or confirming his status.
Who is Reza Amiri Moghaddam?
Reza Amiri Moghaddam assumed office as Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan in July 2023. Born in 1961, he holds a Ph.D. in International Relations. According to Iran’s embassy website in Pakistan, he also serves as Deputy for Foreign and International Policy Affairs at Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
However, the FBI alleges that Moghaddam previously headed the Operations Unit of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. During that time, intelligence agents operating across Europe were said to report directly to him.
Other Names on the FBI List
The two other individuals named alongside Moghaddam are:
- Taqi Daneshvar (also known as Syed Taqi): A high-ranking official within the Iranian intelligence ministry, involved in anti-terror operations. The FBI alleges that during the time of Levinson’s disappearance, Daneshvar oversaw operations linked to the abduction.
- Gholam-Hossein Mohammadnia: A former Iranian ambassador to Albania. Mohammadnia was previously expelled from Albania, along with another Iranian diplomat, over accusations of posing threats to national security. Iran had at the time blamed the U.S. and Israel for pressuring Albania into this decision.
Iran’s Silence
As of now, Iran has not issued any official statement in response to the FBI’s allegations. Repeated attempts by the media to reach the Iranian Embassy have gone unanswered.
The FBI’s fresh revelations and the addition of Iranian officials to its Most Wanted list have sparked renewed tension in already strained U.S.-Iran relations. With a $5 million reward still in place, the mystery of Bob Levinson’s fate continues to haunt American intelligence and diplomatic circles, while raising serious questions about the roles of international diplomats and state actors in covert operations.
