Former FBI Agent, Missing for Four Years, Could Be Alive in Southwest Asia

March 3, 2011 — -- New evidence has surfaced that former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who went missing on a popular Iranian resort island nearly four years ago, may still be alive, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today.

"We have received recent indications that Bob is being held somewhere in southwest Asia," Clinton said in a brief statement.

Clinton provided no details on how the information was obtained or where exactly Levinson might be. But her statement marks the first public claim that the U.S. has discovered evidence Levinson could still be alive since his disappearance and the Levin family said they are "tremendously encouraged" by it.

"It has been almost four years since I have seen my beloved husband Robert Levinson," Christine Levinson wrote today on the website HelpBobLevinson.com. "Our family is tremendously encouraged by the news Bob is alive but remains concerned for his safety and well being.

"Our seven children, our two grandchildren, and I await the day we will be reunited," she said.

Clinton did not give any indication who may be holding Levinson, but asked the government of Iran for help in rescuing him.

"As the Government of Iran has previously offered its assistance in this matter, we respectfully request the Iranian government to undertake humanitarian efforts to safely return and reunite Bob with his family," she said. "We would appreciate the Iranian government's efforts in this matter."

A spokesman for the FBI was similarly vague with regard to the new information.

"This is an ongoing investigation. What is important is that we work to bring Bob Levinson home safely. His family misses him dearly and we remain concerned about his health given his struggle with diabetes," the spokesman said.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly called on Iran to help locate Levinson, but has never said they believe him to be in Iran. One U.S. official briefed on the case told ABC News today investigators do not believe he is there, despite one senator's claim and WikiLeaks documents that support the theory.

During Secretary Clinton's confirmation hearing in January 2009, Senator Bill Nelson, a current member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence, said flatly, "We think he is being held by the government of Iran in a secret prison."