U.S. imposes sanctions against Iran over the 2007 abduction of former FBI agent

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against two Iranian officials on Monday in connection to the 2007 abduction of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, authorities said.

The announcement targeted Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who are within the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (MOIS), officials said.

"For 13 years, the Iranian government, which continues to take foreigners and dual-nationals hostage as political leverage, has denied knowledge of Mr. Levinson's whereabouts or condition," according to a Treasury statement.