Lorna kept her eyes on Dyer. ‘Iran is a country with a proud seven-thousand-year-old civilisation that is only now starting to recover from a religious over-reaction to two Western governments – the US and the UK – which overthrew its democratically elected leader in 1953. And why? For the apparently treacherous reason that Mossadeq wanted the oil wealth of his country to be shared by its people. Iran could have built a bomb like North Korea ages ago had it wanted. But why bother? There was no need, not when the US was making such a comprehensive mess of its foreign policy. Leaving aside the unhelpful fact that the US has not been able to defeat goat-herders in flip-flops in Afghanistan, there is the troubling example of the present incumbent in the White House.’

‘Who may have earned the right to be considered, forgive my Farsi, the biggest spurt of piss ever let out of an American prick,’ said Updark, licking his fingers.

‘And why is the US president behaving like this?’ continued Lorna. ‘Baldly put, he cannot accept how far the balance of power has shifted since America’s disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq and the defeat recently of Isis in Syria, for which, I might add, he needed the tacit consent of Iran.

‘In short, who are the two chief beneficiaries of America’s strategic mismanagement of the Middle East? Number One, Russia. Number Two, and catching up fast, Iran. The losers are America, the Saudis and Israel – who are each busy pinning responsibility for the region’s ills on Tehran. The main reason why they want to ditch the nuclear deal is that it would knock out Iran as a regional player.

‘Don’t get me wrong. No one pretends Iran is the benignest power on earth. What I am saying is that all international assessment so far points to the fact that Iran is complying with its obligations. Iran may have had a nuclear programme before 2015, but there is not one scrap of evidence to say that it has had one since. That is why Ralph Cubbage would so dearly love to find any proof that Iran might be reneging on the deal. Marvar’s discovery may not at this moment be weapons-focused, but it would be, as Lionel likes to say, the dripping sirloin that Cubbage’s president is slavering for.’

‘Thanks, Lorna,’ said Updark. ‘Sharp to the point as ever. And before I forget,’ tapping the tin, ‘remind me to give Audrey your recipe.’

She took it as her cue to stand up, adjust her skirt, and return to her desk.

He turned to Dyer: ‘Questions?’

Dyer’s regret to see Lorna go was mingled with relief that she had not questioned him directly about his conversation with Marvar. He looked at the two men. ‘Where do you reckon Marvar is?’

‘We’ve checked all flights to Iran,’ said Hissop. ‘He doesn’t seem to have left the country.’