US pleads release of ex-FBI agent, two others held in Iran

Washington: The White House on Tuesday made a holiday appeal to Iran to return a retired FBI agent and two other Americans being held in the country. Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent, disappeared during a business trip to Iran’s Kish Island in March 2007. The United States believes the private investigator and father of seven was abducted and is being held in Iran. Levinson’s case was a topic in recent negotiations between US and Iran aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear program and improving diplomatic ties. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday that Obama specifically raised Levinson’s case as well as those of US citizens Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati, who currently are detained in Iran, during a telephone conversation earlier in the fall with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. [caption id=“attachment_1252095” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  This undated handout photo shows retired-FBI agent Robert Levinson who went missing on the Iranian island of Kish in March 2007. Levinson’s family received these photographs of him in April 2011. AP[/caption] Abedini is a pastor; Hekmati is a former US Marine. “It is our view that all of these Americans should have the opportunity to come home,” Earnest told reporters traveling with Obama in Los Angeles. “The US government has made a respectful request of the Iranian regime during this holiday season to consider on humanitarian grounds releasing these three Americans, or at least releasing the two Americans we know are detained and locating the whereabouts of the third, Mr. Levinson.” A written statement the White House released before Earnest spoke said the U.S. remained committed to finding and bringing home Levinson, who is from Coral Springs, Florida. “We respectfully ask the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist us in securing Mr. Levinson’s health, welfare, and safe return,” the statement said. AP