US thinks missing American Levinson no longer in Iran
The White House said Tuesday it believes that Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared nearly nine years ago in Iran, is no longer in the country.
His family said Monday they were "crushed and outraged" that he was not included in a prisoner exchange that saw five other American detainees released over the weekend.
"As we mentioned several years ago, we have reason to believe that he is no longer in Iran," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, refusing to comment on whether Levinson was still believed to be alive.
"We continue to press for information about his whereabouts and we're going to continue to do that," he said.
On Sunday, President Barack Obama recalled US efforts to recover the former agent in a televised statement from the White House, saying, "We will never forget about Bob."
The White House has consistently said Levinson was not working for the US government when he disappeared from Iran's Kish Island in mysterious circumstances in March 2007.
But according to the Washington Post, Levinson was working for the CIA and was supposed to meet with an informer about Iran's nuclear program.
A father of seven, Levinson suffers from diabetes and hypertension, and his family fears he is not receiving the appropriate medical care.