Pompeo trying to 'leave his mark' with new Iran sanctions: Analyst
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is trying to “leave his mark” with new sanctions against Iran before the Trump administration leaves office in January, says journalist and political commentator Patrick Lawrence.
The Trump administration this week formally blamed Iran for the first time for the presumed death of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, whom Washington alleges has been imprisoned in the Islamic Republic.
In a statement on Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iranian officials of authorizing Levinson's abduction and detention. Pompeo blamed two high-ranking officials with the Iranian Intelligence Ministry by name — Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazaei-- for Levinson's disappearance.
The Treasury Department backlisted the two Iranian officials, accusing them of being “involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Robert Levinson."
Lawrence told Press TV in an interview that there was no evidence showing Levinson had been held Iran, adding that administration officials had already acknowledged that he was no longer in the Islamic Republic.
“First of all, it was acknowledged years ago by administration officials that Levinson in all likelihood, is no longer even in Iran. The sanctions now are based on a case where there is no certain evidence of his fate,” he said.
“How the Trump administration, specifically Secretary of State Pompeo, let's be clear, gets away with imposing sanctions in response to completely indeterminate cases is ridiculous,” he continued. “But I think the final point here is that this is Secretary of State Pompeo getting his last punches in before he is removed from office and the Biden people come in.”
Lawrence said it was not known whether the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden will go down a less confrontational path with Iran. “I think the thing to watch now is how much of this… the Biden administration will roll back.”
Levinson reportedly visited Iran’s Kish Island in the south on March 9, 2007. He later went missing and his whereabouts remain unknown. In 2010, a video was sent to the Levinson family, reportedly showing him demanding assistance for his release. Earlier this year, Levinson’s family cited the US government as claiming the former FBI agent had died in Iranian custody.
Tehran has categorically denied any involvement in his disappearance.
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