The Viper of Kerman

A powerful Iranian cleric wants to strike his own deal with the West in this scathing, hilarious, and politically astute adventure yarn
 
A powerful cleric with massive commercial and military influence, Ayatollah Ali Baharvand has stepped down as one of Tehran's nuclear negotiators. Sickened by the stagnation of a revolution that never elevated his country to the heights it deserved, he plans to seize power and strike his own deal with the West. Baharvand's plot is charted through the eyes of MI6 officers, diplomats, and journalists, giving a rare insight into the culture, social life, and psychology of this much-misunderstood nation.