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White House says missing American may no longer be in Iran

Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The White House said Tuesday the U.S. has reason to believe that missing former FBI agent Robert Levinson is no longer in Iran.

At a regular briefing, White House spokesman Josh Earnest did not explain what led Washington to the assessment, but said "we continue to press for information about his whereabouts."

He said the U.S. has secured a commitment from Iran to help locate Levinson, vowing that "we're going to hold the Iranians to that commitment".

Levinson went missing on Iran's Kish Island in 2007. Press reports said he was paid by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to gather intelligence inside Iran, while Tehran has repeatedly denied it is holding the American.

Levinson was not among the five Americans released by Tehran over the weekend as part of a prisoner swap with Washington.

"We are happy for the other families. But once again, Bob Levinson has been left behind. We are devastated," Levinson's family said in a statement. Endit