Obama Asks Iran for 'Safe Return' of Former FBI Agent

Obama Asks Iran for 'Safe Return' of Former FBI Agent

As the ink dries on the new Iranian nuclear deal, President Obama moved today to push the Middle Eastern nation to help return former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran's Kish Island in 2007.

"Today, Mr. Levinson becomes one of the longest held Americans in history," said a White House statement. "As we approach the upcoming holiday season, we reiterate the commitment of the United States Government to locate Mr. Levinson and bring him home safely to his family, friends, and loved ones. We welcome the assistance of our international partners in this investigation, and we respectfully ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist us in securing Mr. Levinson's health, welfare, and safe return."

Levinson disappeared in March 2007 after he traveled to Kish Island off Iran's southern coast. The 65-year-old is a retired 28 year veteran of the FBI and DEA who was in the country as a private investigator.

FBI Director James Comey said Monday that despite working the case for the better half of a decade, the Bureau's "exhaustive efforts have not yet been successful in locating Bob or establishing a dialogue with those who are holding him."

Still, a family friend told ABC News today that the family sees renewed hope for Levinson's safe return, given the warming relationship between Washington, D.C. and Tehran, most recently signaled in Sunday's temporary nuclear deal.

In January Levinson's family released a series of images showing him draped in chains and dressed in what appears to be a mock prison uniform. In each image, he holds up a sign, one of which says "Help me."

Authorities do not know or have not publicly identified Levinson's suspected captors, but the U.S. government has repeatedly asked the Iranian government's help in finding him. The Associated Press reported in January that American intelligence officials suspected the Iranian government, specifically its intelligence services, was behind the production of the images released by the Levinson family as well as a "proof of life" video.

FULL COVERAGE: Robert Levinson

Today marks Levinson's 2,455th day in captivity, passing the 2,454 days Terry Anderson spent in captivity after being kidnapped by Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Beirut in the 1980s.

Iran is also holding Amir Hekmati, a young Iranian-American who was arrested in Iran in 2011 as he was visiting his grandmothers. Iran claimed the former Marine was a spy and sentenced him to death before overturning that sentence.

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