Locked up in Iran: Americans still being held, including former FBI agent missing for 10 years – Fox News
There is a renewed focus on the handful of American citizens who remain locked up in Iran, after Politico recently reported that the Iranian prisoners released by the Obama administration last year were set free despite being deemed potential threats to national security.
It was in January 2016 that we learned a group of American citizens in Iranian custody were finally being released as part of ongoing negotiations over the Iran nuclear agreement. Their return came in exchange for the release of several Iranians by the U.S., individuals who were described by then-President Obama as "civilians" who had never been "charged with terrorism or any violent offenses."
As the president pointed out at the time, however, not every American believed to be trapped in Iran was coming home, and some are still missing to this day.
Here is a list of Americans still being held in Iran. The former FBI agent still missing after 10 years
Robert "Bob" Levinson, a 20-year veteran of the FBI, disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to Kish Island on the southern coast of Iran. Levinson, working as a private investigator at the time, was said to be attempting to recruit a source for the CIA.
The last time Levinson was seen alive was in a 2010 hostage video, thoughit remainsunclear exactly who was holding him. Iran has denied any knowledge of his whereabouts, but then-President Obama suggested in his announcement of the prisoner swap that Iran had "agreed to deepen our coordination as we work to locate Robert Levinson."
President Trump spoke of making Levinson's case a priority on the campaign trail, and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said last month that the U.S. "will spare no effort" in bringing Levinson home.
Levinsons wife, Christine, said in an interview on Fox & Friends earlier this week that for 10 years Iran has said they will investigate and get back to us, but never did. She believes President Trump is a deal-maker who can get the job done.
The father-son duo arrested just months apart Levinson's family members aren't the only ones hoping President Trump will be able to return their loved ones to them. The family of two Iranian-Americans imprisoned since October 2015 and February 2016 suggest time is of the essence.
Siamak Namazi, a businessman and scholar, was arrested just a few months before his father, Baquer, a former representative of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), was taken into custody. Since then, the pair have been sentenced to matching prison terms of 10 years on charges they had been spying for the U.S.
"If we are not able to secure their release very soon, I will never see my father, I will never see Siamak, my brother, my children will not see them, Babak Namazi told Fox Washington correspondent Rich Edson earlier this month. There are concerns about both of the the Namazis' health, as well as the conditions they're being held in.
It was in October 2016 that then-candidate Trump tweeted: Well, Iran has done it again. Taken two of our people and asking for a fortune for their release. This doesn't happen if I'm president!
Jared Genser, the Namazis attorney, told Fox News that Spicer's recent comments calling for the Namazis' release represent "an important step forward." But, he added, the words from the White House need "to be followed up by immediate and aggressive action."
As confirmed in a travel warning from the State Department last year, Americans with dual-Iranian citizenship typically arent afforded any kind of legal protections because "[t]he Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship." The warning goes on to state that "Iranian authorities make the determination of a dual nationals Iranian citizenship without regard to the dual nationals personal wishes," and that "[c]onsular access to detained U.S. citizens without dual nationality is often denied as well."
The couple apparently arrested for alcohol, parties
According to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a dual-national Iranian-American and his wife have not only been in prison without any evidence of wrongdoing for nearly a year, their initial arrest was apparently based on charges of serving alcohol and holding mixed-gender parties.
Karan Vafadari, an art gallery manager, was arrested along with his wife, Afarin Nayssari, by Iran's revolutionary guard back last July.
According to a blog apparently run by Vafadari's sister, the couple's charges were recently upgraded to include attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic and the recruiting of spies.
Robert Toscano, the former Italian Ambassador to Iran, defended Vafadari and his wife in an open letter last year. Toscano suggested "[o]ne has to be truly gullible and the easy victim of propaganda in order to believe that they were detained because they were offering alcoholic drinks to their guests." He said that the more-likely reason for their detention was "political blackmail toward the U.S. (of which they are also citizens)."
Originally posted here:
Locked up in Iran: Americans still being held, including former FBI agent missing for 10 years - Fox News
- Opinion | On Iran, Trump Offers No Plan and No End in Sight - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Macron Voices Europes Frustration With Trumps Handling of Iran War - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Rationale for Iran war questioned after Trump says I dont care about regimes uranium stockpiles - theguardian.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- The Team Behind the A.I. Lego-Style Videos That Lampoon Trumps War in Iran - The New Yorker - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- 'What the hell did he just say?' GOP Iran worries build after Trump speech. - Politico - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Ros Atkins onthe cost of the Iran war - BBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Iran's focus on survival means same regime still firmly in place - BBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- How have Trumps Iran war aims changed and has he achieved any of them? - theguardian.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Hegseth ousts the Army chief of staff as the Iran war rages through Week 5 - NPR - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- What the Iran War Could Mean for Stocks, Bonds and Growth - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Donald Trump claims US 'nearing completion' of Iran war aims within weeks - BBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Donald Trump says US could take the oil in Iran - Financial Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Europe didnt want an Iran war, yet Trump is saddling it with the consequences - cnn.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Hegseth asks Army's top uniformed officer to step down as U.S. wages war against Iran - PBS - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Global leaders work to ease oil price surge as Trump signals more weeks of Iran war - PBS - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Grocery shock on the horizon for approaching U.S. elections as Iran war drags on - CNBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Trump uses Iran war address to urge an increasingly skeptical electorate to give him a bit more time - AP News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Everyone is thinking about oil prices: is Iran using the war to hide a surge in executions? - theguardian.com - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- War With Iran Clarifies Trumps Spending Priorities: The Military, Not Child Care - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- How Gulf nations and European allies are responding to Trump's Iran address - PBS - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- On the war in Iran, the public deserved the truth. But Trump offered something else. - MS NOW - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- UK and allies discuss sanctions to stop Iran blocking Strait of Hormuz - BBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Why Stocks Tumbled After Trumps Iran Address - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- 5 Takeaways From Trumps Address on Iran - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Iran war puts Cuba on the back burner - Politico - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- 'Fast Money' traders talk ongoing impact of the Iran war on markets - CNBC - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Lost Friendships, Broken Relationships: How the War in Iran Is Dividing the Diaspora - The New York Times - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Trump's war: A head for the exits in Iran leaves complications behind - USA Today - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Iran war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," Trump says - CBS News - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Opinion | Trumps oddly low-energy prime-time Iran war address failed at its main objective - MS NOW - April 3rd, 2026 [April 3rd, 2026]
- Trump: Iran wants deal so badly; White House says campaign very close to meeting goals - The Times of Israel - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran rejects Trump's ceasefire terms and issues own demands as war continues - PBS - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran war is a 'catastrophe,' G7 ministers warn but there's little they can do to stop it - CNBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- First Thing: Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own - The Guardian - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Yemen's Houthis ready to join Iran war if needed, raising new shipping risk - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- What does the Iran war mean for clean energy transition? - The Guardian - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Higher gas prices from Iran war could offset bigger tax refunds from Trump's 'big beautiful bill' - CNBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran war will spare no major economy, says OECD but the UK is more vulnerable than others - CNBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump says he doesn't want to call Iran conflict a "war" because of need for approval from Congress - CBS News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran has been threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz for years its a key part of Tehrans defence strategy - The Conversation - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump says Tehran negotiators begging for US deal to end Iran war - Euronews.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- How the Iran war is expected to affect US prices, from gas to flights - The Guardian - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The U.S. plan for the Iran war is to take 12 or more nukes off the table, says Kyle Bass - CNBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump is baffled that Iran wont end the war he started - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Live updates: DHS shutdown, Iran war grind on as Donald Trump holds Cabinet meeting - The Hill - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump urges Iran to act quickly on ceasefire plan - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trumps Threats to Europe Put Its Leaders in a Double Bind Over Iran - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- What we know on Day 27 of the US and Israels war with Iran: Trump frustrated with Tehran and IRGC navy chief dead - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trumps Gulf allies push to have their concerns addressed before Iran war ends - CNN - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- 'Iran rejects peace plan' and '400m cost of savings scandal' - BBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- U.S. Circulates Iran Peace Plan While Sending Troops to the Middle East - The New York Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- UK forecast to face weaker growth and higher inflation from Iran war - BBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Americans continue to sour on Trumps handling of Iran war - Politico - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- What we know and dont know about the Iran war negotiations - AP News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The U.S. and Iran Are Fighting a Massively Asymmetrical War - The Atlantic - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- 'Grin and bear it': How investors are navigating the Trump-Iran market whiplash - CNBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Donald Trump to visit Xi Jinping in May after Iran war postponement - BBC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- What it would take to end the Iran war - Al Jazeera - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran was already running out of water. Then came the war on infrastructure. - grist.org - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Iran and the US harden their positions as Tehran keeps its grip on the Strait of Hormuz - KLTV.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Israel and Iran exchange strikes as Trump says U.S. is negotiating end to war - The Washington Post - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- What the Iran War Reveals About the Limits of US Power - Geopolitical Monitor - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Iran foreign minister signaled readiness for deal in call with US - Ynet - - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Opinion | How Bad Could the Iran Oil Crisis Get? - The New York Times - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- What to understand why Trump is still bombing Iran? Look to Nixon and Vietnam | Kenneth Roth - The Guardian - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- What we know on Day 25 of the US and Israels war with Iran - CNN - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Opinion | Theres reason to be skeptical of Trumps productive talks with Iran - MS NOW - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- As War in Iran Disrupts Air Travel, Heres Where Its Hitting Hardest - The New York Times - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Middle East violence continues after Trump claims very good talks with Iran - The Guardian - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Qatar is not directly mediating between US and Iran, ministry spokesperson says - Reuters - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Will Iran Turn to Terrorism? - Foreign Affairs - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Trump searches for an exit strategy in Iran as $100 oil looms over the midterms - Fortune - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Trump Delays Threat to Iran, but War Negotiations Are in Early Stage - The New York Times - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- 82nd Airborne considered for Iran deployment as Marines move into position, report says - Stars and Stripes - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Amazon faces further AWS disruption in the Middle East from Iran conflict - CNBC - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Netanyahu vows further strikes on Iran and Lebanon as missile hits Tel Aviv - The Guardian - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Trump says Iran is eager for a deal to end the war as he extends deadline to allow for diplomacy - AP News - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Gold Has Been a Terrible Iran War Hedge -- Why? - Bloomberg.com - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Trumps claim that US and Iran are talking elicits market cheers and plenty of skepticism - AP News - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]
- Iran Is Trying to Defeat America in the Living Room - The Atlantic - March 24th, 2026 [March 24th, 2026]