‘Or do I fast-forward to the decade between 2005 and 2015, and to America’s claims that it was the US who paid the economic price once sanctions were imposed on Iran, when in fact it was the EU who suffered most economically?

‘Or should I kick off in 2015 when, behind our backs, the Americans used the EU’s oil sanctions as their biggest card in the secret negotiations that they had with Iran, in fundamental violation of EU sovereignty?

‘That’s not such a bad moment to start, since it’s also the year Republican senators with outstretched arms welcomed Israeli lobbying against the deal – when Israel was not even a party to the agreement. And yet the Republicans didn’t allow us – America’s closest ally – to have any say in the debate. As of this moment, it’s the old guard in the Republican Party who pose a greater threat to world peace than the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran. After my experience with both sides – and I was at Livermore during the failure of three weapons tests – I am coming to the conclusion that it may be easier to negotiate with Iran than with Congress.’

Dyer listened to this in silent admiration. ‘Then why don’t you?’ he heard come out of his mouth.

‘We,’ Updark corrected Dyer. ‘We.’

‘Two good reasons,’ said Lorna, still looking at him. ‘Firstly, negotiating with Satan is against the Koran. Secondly, it’s becoming harder to persuade the Iranians that even Satan has prospects. Each utterance from the White House feeds into their paranoid picture that the US and the UK are still out to get them. Even at the top, their thinking is clouded by conspiracy theories. If they don’t see one, they’ll create it. Seizing a tanker or two is just the start.’

‘I think Lorna’s saying that we continue to be viewed as Satan in Iranian eyes.’

‘Of all the world’s arrogant powers, we are viewed as the most evil. But I am also talking about a political system that is capable of taking on a life of its own, as Roly here can testify.’

‘Hear hear,’ said Hissop.

‘History lesson,’ said Updark, nodding, ‘coming up.’