ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); Pakistan has extended diplomatic support to Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam following the United States FBI’s decision to add him to its “most wanted” list over his alleged involvement in the 2007 disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized that Ambassador Moghadam is a respected and officially accredited diplomat of a neighbouring and friendly nation. “He enjoys all the rights, immunities, and privileges accorded to ambassadors under international law,” the spokesperson affirmed.
Khan further noted that Moghadam has played a constructive role in enhancing Pakistan-Iran relations and is widely regarded in Islamabad for his diplomatic efforts. “He is a valued envoy who has significantly contributed to the strengthening of bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran,” he added.
The FBI recently added Moghadam to its most wanted list, alleging that he was involved in the abduction and likely death of Robert Levinson, a retired FBI agent who went missing in 2007 after traveling to Iran’s Kish Island. Levinson was never seen publicly again, and U.S. intelligence later concluded he likely died in Iranian custody.
According to the FBI, Moghadam is an official of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in March 2025 for his purported role in the incident. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5 million, while the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has announced an additional $20 million for information leading to Levinson’s recovery or confirmation of his fate.
The U.S. action comes at a time of heightened regional tension, particularly following a recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. The aftermath of the war has rekindled international focus on Iran’s nuclear program, with renewed efforts to resume negotiations and avoid further escalation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK, recently agreed in a joint call to establish the end of August as the deadline to finalize a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. Should talks fail to produce a deal, the European powers have indicated they will activate the “snapback” mechanism, leading to the automatic reimposition of all United Nations sanctions lifted under the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.
Commenting on the FBI’s decision, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch stated that the U.S. remains committed to seeking justice for Robert Levinson. “We will never forget Bob or his family, and we will continue to hold those involved accountable,” Risch wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said that while Iran may be interested in reviving diplomatic engagement, he is in no rush to resume talks, especially if they are contingent on Tehran abandoning its uranium enrichment activities — a condition Iran has consistently rejected.
Pakistan’s response to the U.S. move underscores its emphasis on maintaining regional diplomatic stability and its strategic partnership with Iran, even as international tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program continue to escalate.
