WASHINGTON — The White House is keeping up pressure on Iran to help search for an American who went missing nine years ago.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says finding former FBI agent Robert Levinson remains a top priority. He notes Iran agreed to step up its role in the search as part of prisoner exchange negotiated alongside a nuclear agreement earlier this year.
An FBI statement Wednesday says the U.S. is encouraged by the recent cooperation from the Iranian government.
Levinson disappeared during a trip to Iran's Kish Island in 2007. A 2013 Associated Press investigation found he was working for the CIA on an unauthorized intelligence-gathering mission to glean information about Iran's nuclear program.
U.S. officials have said they are no longer certain he remains in the country.