Iran’s Shocking Reversal

By Joe Smiga

Iran’s Shocking Reversal begins with the typical desire of the ayatollah to become the head of the Muslim world. To accomplish this, he must bring the United States to its knees begging for mercy. Something happens after the terrorist attacks, and it shows what kind of a leader he truly is, and he tries to sacrifice his own people. In the minds of other leaders, serious doubts are forming after many decades, and situations begin to happen. What the ayatollah wanted to do became the last straw for the remaining leaders. They are tired of his leadership and his plan to build an empire instead of doing what is best for Iranians and their country. The changes are scary, yet they are believed to be in the best interest of the country and its citizens. What will the changes be? You won’t know unless you read the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796049350

Joe Smiga

About the Author Joe Smiga’s first book was published in May 2009 by Xlibris. On October 19, 2009, the New Hampshire Union Leader, New Hampshire’s statewide newspaper, printed a glowing review of Behind the Lies, saying it was worthy of Tom Clancy. Since then, Joe has published seven additional books with Xlibris because of the quality of their work. This year, Joe is publishing his ninth book, Iran’s Shocking Reversal. This novel opens up the imaginative possibilities of developing a better world. This is book tells the story of a major change in the Middle East. Joe loves to tell stories, especially one with hope for the future. He also tells stories of what really happens in the real world. Joe has a naval military background and close to forty-five years of sales and marketing engineered products. Iran’s Shocking Reversal will blow your mind.

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Copyright © 2019 by Joe Smiga.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/02/2019

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 Scheduling a Meeting

Chapter 2 The President and the Director’s Meeting

Chapter 3 The Director’s Reconsideration

Chapter 4 Laying Out His Plan

Chapter 5 Mahmood’s Plan

Chapter 6 Same Day

Chapter 7 Phone Call from the President

Chapter 8 Meeting with Ayatollah

Chapter 9 Power and Inspection

Chapter 10 Sensitive Meeting

Chapter 11 Monday Morning

Chapter 12 Meeting with the Supreme Leader

Chapter 13 The Following Day

Chapter 14 Amir, Renza, and Omid

Chapter 15 Planning Stages

Chapter 16 A Week Later

Chapter 17 Final Authority

Chapter 18 Getting to the United States

Chapter 19 Day One in the United States

Chapter 20 Day Two in the United States

Chapter 21 The Following Day

Chapter 22 Phase Two

Chapter 23 New York Cell

Chapter 24 Detroit

Chapter 25 Dinner and Travel Plans

Chapter 26 Miami Plans

Chapter 27 Arriving in Miami

Chapter 28 Florida Meeting

Chapter 29 Los Angeles

Chapter 30 Closing Part One

Chapter 31 Meeting with Mahmood and Abbas

Chapter 32 Next Day

Chapter 33 Mahmood and Abbas

Chapter 34 Trainers Get Trained

Chapter 35 Following Thursday

Chapter 36 Departure Date

Chapter 37 Friday Afternoon

Chapter 38 Four Days Later

Chapter 39 Four Weeks Later

Chapter 40 Frenzy for Results

Chapter 41 Phase Two

Chapter 42 Learning about TCE

Chapter 43 Detective Work

Chapter 44 It Gets Worse

Chapter 45 What the Hell

Chapter 46 FBI at the Scene

Chapter 47 Destruction Continues

Chapter 48 Oh My God

Chapter 49 Chaos and More Chaos

Chapter 50 The President Is Dead

Chapter 51 It Never Ends

Chapter 52 Midland, Michigan

Chapter 53 Major Fuck-Up

Chapter 54 State of Panic

Chapter 55 Next Day

Chapter 56 West Coast Becoming Calm

Chapter 57 Ayatollah Outraged

Chapter 58 Shit Hits the Fan

Chapter 59 Worldwide Shock

Chapter 60 New Regime

Chapter 61 Anxious Moments

Chapter 62 Tehran

Chapter 63 Falling into Place

Chapter 64 Decisions

Chapter 65 Plenty of Irons in the Fire

Chapter 66 Comments around the World

Chapter 67 News around the Globe

Chapter 68 Worldwide Frenzy

Chapter 69 Moving Along

Chapter 70 Plans Are Moving

Chapter 71 Directors Meet

Chapter 72 Meeting with Director Fineberg

Chapter 73 The Ayatollah Is Located

Chapter 74 Terrorists’ Plan

Chapter 75 Iranians Prepare to Resist

Chapter 76 The Waiting Begins

Chapter 77 The Lull Before the Storm

Chapter 78 Landing in Iran

Chapter 79 Attack Begins

Chapter 80 Reports to Tehran

Chapter 81 Arrival in Tehran

Chapter 82 Interrogation Begins

Chapter 83 Emergency Council Meeting

Chapter 84 Breaking News

Chapter 85 World Reaction

Chapter 86 Aftermath

Chapter 87 Uneasiness

Chapter 88 Council Meeting

Chapter 89 UN Emergency Meeting

Chapter 90 Reaching Out

Chapter 91 Huge Surprise

Chapter 92 Management Responsibilities

Chapter 93 Secret Service Arrives

Chapter 94 Setting Up Security

Chapter 95 Air Force One Arriving

Chapter 96 Meeting of the Minds

Chapter 97 State Dinner

Chapter 98 Departing Iran

Chapter 99 Arriving at Andrews

Chapter 100 At the White House

Chapter 101 Tehran

Chapter 102 United Nations General Assembly

To my lovely wife Linda Feinberg, who has proofed all my books, who has been a great inspiration to me, and who created the photography for six of my book covers.

Other books by Joe Smiga

Fiction

Behind the Lies

Gateway to Terror

A Cowboy’s Vengeance

One Came Back

Silver Lake’s Transformation

Blackest of Fridays

Nonfiction

Tova

What Keeps You Going?

Prologue

On Monday morning, January 22, 2020, Ayatollah, the supreme leader of Iran, a religious zealot, is having a discussion with the Iranian president. Ayatollah is known for changing the colors of his robes depending on his moods. Today, he is wearing a ruby red robe. His eyes were seeking the eyes of the president, looking for some hint of notice. His ego is fed by the admiration of others.

You know, Abbas, what happened in the United States six years ago, with the bombings on their Christmas holiday shopping and the attack on the Catholic Church services, taught us something. Even though our people were doing their jobs and were later arrested or killed, we learned something very valuable.

The president knows the background but plays as if he is unaware. He says, What did those events tell us? The president enjoys the comfort of a blue tweed suit with an open collared shirt without a tie. He prefers modern clothes over robes, and he knows it frustrates Ayatollah.

The effects of those attacks are still instilling fear in the American public. The government doesn’t know which way to turn to overcome them. What we will do next will leave them powerless for us to take over their country.

You must be thinking of something else if you called me to this meeting.

Yes, some low-level mullahs planned those prior operations. Our next plan of attack must be managed by the Revolutionary Guard. Those mullahs caused us to lose two important strike teams trying to straighten out their mess.

What targets do you propose?

I have given this a great deal of thought. First, a country must survive on electrical power in today’s technology age. Second, it is vital for the people to have water to survive. We shall discuss how this will happen on a future day.

So what do you wish me to do?

I will pass my ideas onto the head of the Revolutionary Guard and have him call you to set up a joint meeting with you.

Is that all you want me to do?

No, the two of you are to co-chair this project, and I want it to begin in twelve months.

What am I bringing to the table for this operation?

You are the military strategist who will guide the guard.

What is so special about twelve months?

You will see when the time comes, says Ayatollah. Now, go. I have other matters to attend to.

Pres. Hamid Abbas rises from the chair he is seated in. He tries his best to keep a face that doesn’t mirror his uncertainty about this project.

*   *   *

At midnight, a freighter flying a German flag is sailing across the Arabian Sea, headed for the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the sanctions placed on Iran, the American destroyer is curious what kinds of cargo it will be carrying.

The destroyer pulls up along the starboard side of the freighter. It radios information about the ship to the US command. It waits for instructions if they should board the ship.

By the time the two vessels travel five miles, the message from the US command is to break off and not to board the vessel. Supposedly, the ship is delivering machine parts to Iraq and needs to cross through the strait and sail up the Persian Gulf.

When the destroyer breaks contact, the captain of the freighter lifts his cap and wipes the sweat off his brow. He is thankful the ship will not be boarded.

Chapter One

Scheduling a Meeting

Ten minutes after leaving the office of the supreme leader, the president is trying to digest what he just learned. The leader decided on a plan to create more terrorism in the United States, and it is to be co-chaired by two men with vast differences in their methods. The president is wondering how this is going to work. He doesn’t look forward to the beginning of the project. His biggest problem is he is only halfway through his first term and is hoping to acquire a second term as president. The success or failure of this operation will play a major role in that decision.

Two days later, inside the presidential palace, the phone on the desk of the main receptionist begins to ring. Her desk is in front of the national emblem of Iran, a close to six feet high and nearly four feet across figure.

Presidential palace, the attractive young lady speaks.

I wish to speak with the president. This is the director of the Revolutionary Guard.

One moment, please, while I connect you with his office.

The receptionist returns to the director’s call. The president will be with you within two minutes. The president requests that you please wait for him.

The director doesn’t enjoy waiting. If this had not been ordered by the supreme leader, he would have the president’s office call him back. He feels it is strange that he is being asked to work with the president, who, in reality, is merely a puppet.

Mahmood, sorry to keep you waiting. I am glad you called. I assume you have received a phone call.

Yes, I received a call from our supreme leader, who advised me to contact you to have a meeting. What does your calendar look like? asks the director.

Hold on a moment while I bring it up on my monitor. I have time next Tuesday and Thursday in the afternoon. We could meet here if you would like.

Scanning his own monitor, Mahmood says, Next Thursday at 1400 hours, and yes, I think meeting in your office for this first meeting is a good idea.

Both men have agreed to the date and time, and then they hang up, wondering where the hell this is going to lead.

Chapter Two

The President and the Director’s Meeting

The following Thursday, promptly at one fifty, the director of the Revolutionary Guard arrives at the presidential palace.

As he walks toward the receptionist’s desk, he wonders why there is such a big deal in having a president who is only a figure head in decision-making. This isn’t the first time he questions why this exists.

Seeing the director approach her desk, the receptionist is on guard for whatever he might say. She is uncomfortable with the reputation this man has in the country.

The president is expecting me in ten minutes.

I will call his office. She lifts her phone receiver and makes the call.

She tells whomever she speaks with, The director of the Revolutionary Guard is here for his appointment.

We will send someone down to escort him!

Hanging up her phone, she advises the director that someone is on their way to escort him.

Within minutes, a male escort arrives and proceeds to take the director to the president’s office.

When the director enters, he sees Abbas sitting behind his desk.

You are prompt as usual, Director. Take a seat, and we can begin.

Abbas, can you tell me why we are co-chairing this operation? Right now, I do not see the need for the two of us.

Our supreme leader feels this operation will take two heads, one for covert operations and one for strategic planning. The strategic planning is my area of expertise. I had asked him the same question you asked me. Now you have his reply.

Abbas, I am responsible for getting thirty centrifuges into the country. We had one shipment of ten arrive safely. Before the freighter entered the Strait of Hormuz, an American destroyer followed it for five miles. Fortunately, they did not board the vessel. I have two more shipments of ten arriving over the next month, and that is where my priority lies. Ayatollah is good at coming up with dreams so long as he has someone else follow through. Look, I lost some good men by screwups from a couple of imams. I do not want to let someone else run my people.

I don’t plan to run your people. We will need to agree on a strategy, and my responsibility is to make sure our plan and our timing is being adhered to. Why don’t you cool off and come back another day without the chip on your shoulder.

Mahmood is shocked that he is being spoken to this way. At first, he is too stunned to even make a reply to the statement.

Mahmood rises and says, I will do as you suggest and think it over. If I choose not to co-chair, I will let you know. However, my terms are this newest crazy idea from Ayatollah can wait until all thirty centrifuges arrive. Until that happens, count me out.

Before you walk out that door, Director, I recommend you call the supreme leader and tell him why he has a lousy idea. Since it is evident you are not a team player, you need to stand up to accept your own consequences. You will not be working for me. We both have to make this project work. If we cannot agree, the supreme leader can make the final decision. Call me with what you tell him.

Mahmood turns bright red and walks out the door. The man who escorted the director to the office rises to guide him to the lobby.

Don’t bother. I know my way to the lobby.

The man sheepishly sits back down.

Chapter Three

The Director’s Reconsideration

The Revolutionary Guard director storms through the palace lobby with his frustrations very visible to everyone around him.

People he leaves behind in the lobby stare at him as he exits in a huff. No one remembers ever seeing him lose his cool before. Maybe the guy is human after all. Everyone wonders what set him off, but they don’t dare ask. He heads for the car where his driver is waiting for him. As soon as the driver sees him, he exits the car to open the rear door.

Take me for a ride down by the lake. I need to settle my thoughts.

Yes, sir!

The driver knows exactly where to go. This isn’t the first time he has seen the director stressed out to the point of becoming enraged. Like everyone else the director left behind, the driver wonders what caused this to come about.

Do you want me to park anywhere, sir, or continue driving?

Keep driving until I tell you to stop!

Yes, sir.

The director knows the politics of what could happen if he turns down working on this project. The supreme leader will not be pleased at all. He might even go so far as having the director replaced. Mahmood wonders what the hell is going on here. He needs to cool down and think about how he will handle this.

Pull over where the cinder block building is by the south end of the lake. I want to get out and stretch my legs.

Do you wish me to walk with you, sir?

No, I need some quiet time to myself.

*   *   *

The weather is dry, and the air is crisp. Winter is beginning to show its signs. Mahmood likes this type of weather. There are only a few hours of daylight left before the darkness envelops the lake area. He can walk in it for hours and enjoy every minute of it. Today, he needs to speak with the supreme leader. Taking delivery of the centrifuges is a vital assignment. I should not be expected to do two things at once.

It takes an hour for Mahmood to feel comfortable with what he has in mind to present to the president and the supreme leader. He begins to head back to his vehicle.

The driver sees him coming and exits the car to open one of its rear doors.

Getting seated, the director says, Take me back to the office. I have phone calls to make.

Yes, sir!

Chapter Four

Laying Out His Plan

The Revolutionary Guard director enters his office after being left off at the main guard building. He turns on the overhead lights. He tosses his jacket onto a chair near his desk. Dropping down into his chair, he realizes he needs a few moments to compose the words he wants to relay to his three captains.

Mahmood feels the supreme leader is testing him for some reason. Why, he does not know, yet he suspects the politics inside Iran is changing, and he worries about his position. He knows he must succeed in getting the centrifuges safely to Iran before he does anything else.

Snapping out of his melancholy, Mahmood reaches for his phone and tells the receptionist that he wants the following three captains to call him within the hour. He gives her the names and sits back and waits for their calls.

The first call is from Amir. Mahmood expected it to be from him, and Amir is told to be in the director’s office at eleven tomorrow. We have special details to discuss, he says.

Amir responds positively as usual, and the call is ended.

Within the next hour, the other two captains call, and they receive the same message. Each one wonders what the hell is going on. The director seems to have become unglued.

*   *   *

Mahmood sits back in his chair and contemplates making the next call. His inner instinct tells him not to make it. His ego tells him he must make it.

Dialing the supreme leader’s number, he sits back and waits for the leader’s secretary to come on the line.

Director, Ayatollah has left for the day, and I will give him the message tomorrow, if you care to leave one.

Mahmood smiles. This small tidbit makes him feel better about himself. Have him call me after ten. Mahmood doesn’t even say thank you or acknowledge the existence of the person he just spoke with.

Chapter Five

Mahmood’s Plan

At seven thirty the following morning, the director of the Revolutionary Guard enters his office at his regular time. He is excited because he is learning to think out of the box, as the Americans call it. Stepping behind his desk and getting seated, he looks at the painting on the wall of Ayatollah. He realizes sometimes it is an inspiration, and sometimes it reminds him of the obstacles he must endure and overcome.

This day falls under the umbrella of being a day to endure.

He picks up his phone and orders his male secretary to deliver some Turkish coffee the way he likes it.

Very well, sir, give me a few minutes to prepare it for you, says the man.

Returning the phone to its cradle, he finds that it rings almost instantaneously.