McCain: CIA misled Congress on American missing in Iran

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Sen. John McCain said Sunday that the CIA has not been forthcoming with Congress on details about an American who disappeared while on a secret intelligence mission to Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister asserted that Robert Levinson is “not incarcerated by the government, and I believe the government runs, pretty much, good control of the country.”

An Associated Press investigation published last week found that Levinson was working for the CIA — investigating the Iranian government. The U.S. long has publicly described Levinson as a private citizen who traveled to an Iranian island on private business.

McCain, R-Ariz., told CNN’s “State of the Union,” “The CIA did not tell the truth to the American Congress about Mr. Levinson.”

McCain said he is confident the U.S. is doing all it can to learn what has happened to Levinson. But he said he is disturbed the Obama administration has not been more forthcoming with information.

He said he doesn’t “think there’s any doubt” about whether Iran knows Levinson’s fate.

But Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, asked on CBS’ “Face the Nation” where Levinson is, replied, “I have no idea.”