Iran Says No Information on Missing ex-FBI Agent

Iran reiterated on Tuesday that it had no information about retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished nearly six years ago while on a trip to the Islamic republic.

"We have announced that we do not have any information regarding the issue," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanaparast told reporters in his weekly briefing.

The disappearance of Levinson, who retired from the FBI more than a decade ago, has strained already tense relations between the United States and Iran.

Mystery shrouds the fate of Levinson, who disappeared on Iran's Gulf island of Kish while reportedly investigating cigarette counterfeiting in the region. His wife Christine last heard from him on March 8, 2007.

Washington has repeatedly urged Tehran to provide information on his fate, but Iranian officials say they have no information about his whereabouts.

Christine on January 8 released photos of him wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by prisoners at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay Detention Center in Cuba, holding a white placard which read, "Why You Can Not Help Me."

The pictures originally were given to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty which handed them over to Christine in April 2011, who opted not to release them at that time.

In March 2012, the FBI offered a reward of $1 million for information leading to Levinson's safe return to the United States.