In Tehran, a meeting is being held at the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The Commander of the IRGC is reporting the events that have transpired in the last twenty-four hours.
The President of Iran gets up to speak, “members of the Supreme National Security Council, we have brought the Israelis and Americans to their knees again. Our plans to complete the uranium enrichment process can proceed without fear of intervention from the enemy. The Israeli engineers have been detained in the facility at Natanz. We will begin to disperse them to other facilities soon. But first we must let the world and our allies know that we will not be deterred by idle threats from the Zionist murderers. Once our allies see that they have nothing to fear from the Americans, they will not honor the sanctions that have been imposed on them and our development of nuclear weapons will progress much faster. Let us show the world that we will not be bullied by the West. I am planning a press conference and will display the Israeli prisoners at Natanz to the world.”
Several members of the SNSC raise objections to parading the kidnapped engineers on television. They cite the last time that the American hostages were filmed in 1979 and the intelligence value that the Americans received by watching and observing the footage. It also inflamed the world’s opinion of the Iranian Revolution that has been very hard to reverse. But these objections are put aside in favor of the political motives that the Islamic Republic of Iran wants to achieve.
“Contact Colonel Radan at Natanz and have him prepare the Israelis for the press conference,” orders the President. The other dissenting members are overruled and have to comply.
1700Z: Natanz: Iran
At his office in the underground support building, Colonel Radan receives his orders with much trepidation. He is not keen to have the President of Iran showing off the prisoners and the facility where they are being held to the world press. It is a breach of security in his mind and believes that it would be detrimental to the defense of the compound. He knows that the Israelis or the Americans will attempt a rescue mission. But he has no power to dissuade the Commander of the IRGC from allowing this spectacle. As a military commander, Colonel Radan knows this is a very bad strategic decision. He has to keep his opinions to himself. He has to figure out how he is going to respond because he knows that the Israelis will stop at nothing to rescue their men and destroy this facility in the process.
After Colonel Radan relays his orders to the Captain of the Guards, he goes back to watching a recording of the video from the cameras inside the room that is holding the hostages. He is trying to determine the leaders of the engineers. He has observed that one individual seems to be in charge. He will continue to watch their interactions and discover who the other leaders are. He suspects that most of the engineers are former Israeli Defense Force. He knows that these men are well trained and disciplined. As a lifelong soldier, he has respect for these men.
Day 3: 0530Z: Natanz: Iran
At approximately 09:00 am, two helicopters approach the helipad at the Natanz nuclear facility. The President of Iran and his staff disembark from the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Panha Shabaviz 2061 and the members of press are in the Imperial Iranian Air Force CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The President is formally greeted by the ministers from the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, the Director of Natanz, and the Commander of the IRGC at the entrance to the tunnel that leads to the underground concrete protected uranium processing plants. The Islamic Republic News Agency, CNN and other members of the international press corps are following his entourage. The President’s arrival to the Natanz nuclear facility is broadcast on every major television network in the world. They proceed through the tunnel past the large and thick reinforced steel doors. The door’s vulnerabilities are obvious. As the entourage makes its way through the hallway leading to the support building and laboratories, the President pauses occasionally to speak to the Director and the Press corp.
As he was ordered, Colonel Radan has the Israeli hostages brought out of their holding room to one of the gas centrifuge cascade halls in the southeastern laboratory buildings. The Iranian President tells the world about his plans to bring nuclear power to the Islamic Republic of Iran as he gives his speech to the press and the staff of the facility.
He exclaims, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be deterred by the threats of the Israelis and Americans. We are prepared to defend our nuclear research facilities against any threat. If we have to detain these Israelis to protect our work, we will! They will be released as soon as our work here has been completed.”
The news cameras scan the weary hostages. They appear to be in good physical condition.
All the attention to the President’s arrival has given Faisal an opportunity. He has been ordered to help in the preparations. He was able to observe the location of the holding room for the hostages in the underground support building. As all the attention is directed to the President and members of the press, he is busy making mental notes to pass to his PMOI/MKO contacts in Tehran. He knows that this information will be useful to the American CIA and profitable to him.
Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Prime Minister, Israeli Defense Minister, the Director of the Mossad and a few chosen members of the Knesset are watching this spectacle on CNN. The program is being recorded for analysts to watch it closely for clues. The captives seem to be well taken care of and do not appear to have been injured or mistreated.
In Washington, DC, it is 01:30, the President, the Secretary of State Turner, the Director of the National Security Administration, CIA Director, Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are gathered in the Situation Room and watching the same broadcast.
“Mr. President, I believe that the Israelis are going to attempt a rescue. Do you remember the last time we attempted a rescue of the hostages in Tehran in 1980,” states General Franklin.
“Yes, I do. The Israelis know what they are doing and frankly they don’t have a choice. This is the only acceptable response that they have. Diplomacy is not an option for the Israelis. I have assured the Prime Minister that we will be ready to help them, whatever the cost,” replies the President Fenner. “The Prime Minister said that the Israeli military officers will arrive in the morning and we will find out what they have planned and what they need. General Franklin, give them whatever they need.”
“Yes Sir, Mr. President,” replies General Franklin and nods his head.
President Fenner turns to The Directors of the NSA and CIA and says, “Gentlemen, what information do we have on this Colonel Radan and his military detachment at Natanz?”
“Sir, we will get a full briefing for you, immediately,” replies the Director of the CIA.
President Fenner says to Secretary Turner as the others are leaving, “Phil, speak with the French Ambassador to the United Nations as soon as possible. I have already spoken with the United Nations Secretary General and the British Prime Minister. I have advised them that the United States condemns the kidnapping of the Israeli engineers by the Islamic Republic of Iran and will be bringing a resolution before the Security Council tomorrow. We need the support of the French and the other members of the Security Council. You can bet that the Chinese and Russians will vote against it. They have too much business at stake. Also, call the Pakistani Ambassador and ask him to speak with the Ambassador of Iran to the United Nations. We have to try for a diplomatic solution or at least appear to be pursuing one. We need to buy some time for the Israelis before the Iranians decide to move the hostages.”