The wife of a former FBI agent who vanished in Iran in 2007 expressed bitter frustration Thursday about efforts to get her husband back home.
Christine Levinson told a House panel that she holds Iran responsible for the disappearance of her husband, Robert. But she also said three American administrations have failed to press Iran hard enough for his return.
“Time and time again, Bob has been left behind, deprioritized, or seemingly forgotten,” she said in prepared remarks for the hearing on the status of Americans detained in Iran.
She testified along with a woman whose Iranian-American father and brother, Baquer and Siamak Namazi, are both serving 10-year sentences on espionage charges.
Robert Levinson vanished while on an unauthorized CIA mission. Christine Levinson said the family believes Robert Levinson is alive and that the U.S. should press Iran harder for answers. She praised the work of “some dedicated people from various agencies” but said others in the government have not communicated with each other regarding his case, or have questioned whether he is alive and have undercut efforts to secure his release.
“My husband served this country tirelessly for decades,” she said. “He deserves better from all of us and from our government. He deserves our endless pursuit to bring him home, to fight day and night and leave no stone unturned.”
(AP)