Some 400 people rallied in Coral Springs, Florida on Saturday for the release of former FBI agent Bob Levinson, who was taken into custody by Iranian police in 2007.
Levinson was captured while on an unauthorized CIA mission on Kish Island, while allegedly trying to determine the status of the country’s race towards nuclear weaponry.
This is the ninth year that Levinson is missing – the longest of any hostage.
If he is still alive, Levinson turns 68 this coming Thursday.
Levinson’s family told reporters they were “devasted” that he was the only hostage not included in the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap back in January.
The family has met with top Obama administration officials but received little information other than reassurances the government would redouble its efforts to pressure Iran to “find” the former FBI agent.
Seven Iranian prisoners were traded in exchange for the five Americans who were freed in January, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and a Christian pastor. But Iranian government officials who originally discussed his release with American 67-year-old Levinson’s whereabouts. However, he was seen in Iranian custody several years ago by an eyewitness, according to media reports.