An international plan to kidnap
a dissident in Istanbul, involving a honeytrap Iranian spy, soured relations between Turkey, Iran and Europe.
Turkish counter-terrorism files claim Iranian opposition activist Habib Chaab was lured into the trap on October 9 before being smuggled back to Iran, Sky News reported on Wednesday.
The prominent Arab activist now faces public execution and his friends and family are calling on the international community to intervene and save him.
On Monday, Turkey arrested 11 people suspected of working with Iran to abduct Mr Chaab, who founded a separatist group called the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz.
Tuesday, 15 December, 2020 - 09:00
Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent, and DEA agent, seen in this undated handout photo released by the Levinson family. (Handout via Reuters) Washington- Hiba al-Qudsi
The US Treasury Department blacklisted two senior officials of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security after accusing them of involvement in the 2007 disappearance of former FBI agent, Robert Levinson.
The Treasury sanctioned Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai of the Iranian Ministry for Levinson s abduction, detention, and possible death in Iranian prisons.
With few weeks remaining in the term of outgoing US President Donald Trump, the sanctions indicate an attempt to increase pressure on the Iranian regime before the administration s departure.
Iran Says It Doesn t Know Ex-FBI Agent s Fate, Ask U.S. About His CIA Ties
On 12/14/20 at 11:45 PM EST
Iran has denied any knowledge of the fate or location of a former FBI agent whose disappearance while in the Islamic Republic 13 years ago is now being blamed by the United States on two Iranian security officials.
The Treasury Department announced Monday that it was placing sanctions on Mohammed Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, two individuals said to be Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security operatives involved in Robert Levinson s abduction, detention and likely death, sometime after he left his Kish Island hotel in 2007.
The Trump administration announced on Monday new sanctions on two Iranians, blaming them for their “direct involvement” in the 2007 abduction and probable death of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson.
The US Treasury Department sanctions against Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, two intelligence officers from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, “are the first public actions against the Iranian government to hold them accountable for the abduction of Mr Levinson, the longest-held US hostage ever”, a senior US official said.
“The individuals designated today … acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr Levinson,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.