The FBI increased a reward on Monday for helping to find an American ex-agent who disappeared in Iran eight years ago . In a statement , the FBI said the U.S. government will pay up to $ 5 million for information that can help bring Robert Levinson home , up from $ 1 million . 'We ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to work cooperatively with us on the investigation into Robert Levinson 's disappearance so we can ensure his safe return , ' Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement . The FBI increased a reward on Monday for helping to find Robert Levinson ( seen left in 2010 and right before he went missing ) who disappeared in Iran eight years ago . FBI Director James Comey said 'it is long past time for Bob to come home . ' Secretary of State John Kerry urged the Iranian government to 'work cooperatively with us on the investigation . ' The father of seven retired from the FBI in 1998 . Levinson , disappeared from the Iranian resort of Kish Island on March 9 , 2007 , while on a business trip . Friends of Levinson said that , around that time , he had been investigating the counterfeiting of cigarettes , though mainly in Latin America . The FBI has been investigating Levinson 's disappearance and the hunt has led them into Afghanistan and Pakistan - and back to Iran . However , two Iranian presidents - including recently-elected moderate Hassan Rouhani - have denied having any involvement in his kidnapping or knowing where he is . An Associated Press investigation published in 2013 revealed that Levinson vanished while working for the CIA on an unapproved intelligence-gathering mission . Levinson had flown to the Iranian resort of Kish Island in March 2007 on CIA intelligence-gathering business when he was kidnapped . Levinson disappeared from Kish Island , an Iranian resort in the Persian Gulf . The Iranian government has repeatedly claimed that it has no idea where he is and was not responsible for his kidnapping . 'Year after year , the family has endured the pain of his absence . It is time for him to come home , ' Kerry wrote , also expressing concern for Levinson 's health . In November 2010 , a video surfaced in which Levinson asked for help in winning his freedom but did not say who was holding him or where he was . The Iranian government has repeatedly said it knows nothing about Levinson 's disappearance or whereabouts . In 2013 Sen. John McCain said that ‘ the CIA did not tell the truth to the Congress ’ about Levinson . McCain said he was confident the U.S. is doing all it can to learn what has happened to Levinson , but added he was disturbed the Obama administration has not been more forthcoming with information about him . Levinson was last seen in 2010 when his captors sent a video showing him holding several signs . He had lost weight and begged for help from the U.S. government . Levinson is seen here with his daughter Samantha at one of his favorite restaurants in Orlando , Florida . He said he did n't ‘ think there 's any doubt ’ about whether Iran knows Levinson 's fate . After he vanished , the CIA at first told lawmakers he had previously done contract work for the agency , but he had no current relationship with the agency and there was no connection to Iran . However , in October 2007 , Levinson 's lawyer discovered emails in which Levinson told a CIA friend that he was working to develop a source with access to the Iranian government . The emails were turned over to the Senate Intelligence Committee , which touched off an internal CIA investigation . Three veteran analysts were forced out of the CIA and seven others were disciplined as a result of a breach of agency rules . The CIA paid Levinson 's family $ 2.5 million to pre-empt a revealing lawsuit , and the agency rewrote its rules restricting how analysts can work with outsiders . The last photos and video of a bearded , emaciated Levinson were released anonymously to his family in 2010 and early 2011 . Investigators say his trail has grown cold since . Top intelligence officials fear that he is dead . Tuesday is Levinson 's 67th birthday - if he remains alive , he has been held captive longer than any American , longer than AP journalist Terry Anderson , who was held more than six years in Beirut .
Robert Levinson disappeared from the Kish Islandian resort of Iran on March 9 , 2007 . Levinson vanished while working for the CIA on an unapproved intelligence-gathering mission . The father of seven retired from the FBI in 1998 . Last photos and video of a bearded , emaciated Levinson were released anonymously to his family in 2010 and early 2011 . Kish Island has denied that Levinson has been incarcerated by his government .