This is one of those breaking news stories that just reads a little odd, and makes one wonder what else is at play?

(Reuters) - The United States has received recent signs that Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in March 2007 during a business trip to Iran's Kish island, is being held in southwest Asia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

"We have received recent indications that Bob is being held somewhere in southwest Asia," Clinton said in a statement. "We respectfully request the Iranian government to undertake humanitarian efforts to safely return and reunite Bob with his family."

"Southwest Asia"...? Clinton means "Iran," right? So why not just say so? And what was a "former FBI agent" doing visiting Iran on business trip? Almost feels like a sub-plot on MI-5.