An Iranian flag is pictured during a military drill in Iran, October 19, 2020. WANA via REUTERS
An Iranian flag is pictured during a military drill in Iran, October 19, 2020. WANA via REUTERS
An Iranian flag is pictured during a military drill in Iran, October 19, 2020. WANA via REUTERS
An Iranian flag is pictured during a military drill in Iran, October 19, 2020. WANA via REUTERS

US sanctions on two Iranians for abduction and ‘probable death’ of former FBI agent Levinson


Joyce Karam
  • English
  • Arabic

The Trump administration on Monday imposed sanctions on two senior Iranian military officers for the abduction, detention and probable death of Robert Levinson, who was taken by Iran more than 13 years ago.

Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, are being designated by the US Treasury for their involvement in the retired FBI agent's abduction from Kish Island, about March 9, 2007.

In March this year, his family said Mr Levinson, a private investigator, had died in prison at the age of 71.

“The abduction of Mr Levinson in Iran is an outrageous example of the Iranian regime’s willingness to commit unjust acts,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

The FBI said senior Iranian officials knew about and approved the plot to take Mr Levinson.

He went missing during an investigation into the skimming of Iranian oil profits.

“The government of Iran pledged to provide assistance in bringing Bob Levinson home, but it has never followed through," said FBI director, Christopher Wray.

"The truth is that Iranian intelligence officers, with the approval of senior Iranian officials, were involved in Bob’s abduction and detention.

The Iranian officers are being designated on the Global Terrorist list pursuant to executive order 13224.

Mr Baseri is described as a high-ranking officer "involved in counter-espionage activities in and outside Iran, who has been involved in sensitive investigations related to Iranian national security issues”.

Ahmad Khazai, also a high-ranking member of the ministry, has led agency delegations to other countries to assess the security situation.

Senior US officials did not explain the timing of the sanctions, 13 years after Mr Levinson’s disappearance.

But one spoke of the complex process of intelligence gathering and building a legal case against these officers.

A second US official cautioned the incoming Biden administration not to enter a nuclear deal with Iran without freeing the rest of the US hostages in the country.

“There shouldn’t ever again be a deal with Iran that doesn’t free US hostages,” the official said.

There are at least three US citizens being held hostage in Iran and one permanent resident.

“We will never stop [pushing] for their release no matter how many years go by,” one official said.

A Levinson family statement described the sanctions as one step towards achieving justice.

“Robert Levinson will never come home to his family alive because of the cruel, cynical and inhumane actions of the Iranian authorities ... our wonderful husband, father and grandfather died alone, thousands of miles from everyone he loved,” the family said.

“This is just one step in a long road towards achieving justice for him, but it is an important one,” they said, adding that the family wanted accountability.

A US judge ruled this year that Mr Levinson had been held and tortured by officials acting on behalf of the Iranian state.

The US had repeatedly called for his release and a reward of $25 million was offered for his return.

The White House said the sanctions open “the first public actions against the Iranian government to hold them accountable”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Iranian authorities to publicly disclose the fate of Mr Levinson.

“We call on the Iranian regime to provide a full accounting of Mr Levinson’s fate and we will not rest until all Americans wrongfully detained by Iran are back home,” Mr Pompeo said.

How to get exposure to gold

Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.

A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.

Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.

Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.

London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long

However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

The five pillars of Islam
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The years Ramadan fell in May

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Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

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It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

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Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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