Ashes to Ashes by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2022-09-08T19:53:45+00:00

CHAPTER 40

“I don’t trust him.”

The admission carried weight with President Akbar Shahroudi because of the person offering the opinion. Yet, it didn’t change his mind. “You must give me more than that. He saved my life.”

“And in doing so, it weakened and embarrassed you. Leaving you vulnerable.”

Few dared such bluntness with Shahroudi. He still wielded immense power, but Shahbod Gilani had to get his attention.

“Be cautious of your tone,” Shahroudi reprimanded.

“My apologies, but I merely speak what others are saying or thinking.”

President Shahroudi understood there was a great deal of truth in what Gilani was relaying; he just didn’t enjoy hearing it. A less trusted man talking to him in such a manner would chance being sent to waste at Evin prison. Gilani, however, had served him well. His elevated status at the Ministry of Intelligence and Security was well-earned and deserved. He was no “relative of” appointment. His loyalty to country was absolute.

Mid-morning sunlight filled the spacious office at Sa’dabad Palace, providing warmth amid the coolness of topic. Had Natanz been a misfortunate accident, or a grand plan to make him look out of control? Slap upon him the label of a dangerous, unstable man who had no business running a country. If the twelve-member Guardian Council took a vote of support today, the majority would not stand with him. The Majilis, Iran’s parliament, were like vultures, waiting to see how much power he maintained. They would lean whichever way the supreme leader considered the best avenue to take. Confidence was waning, and through channels, the secretive talks had gotten back to Shahroudi. Some wanted to salvage him, suggesting he tone down his rhetoric of hatred for all things Western. No matter his fate, they wouldn’t deny one final grasp at saving face, and perhaps his presidency. Failure meant falling on the sword. Shahroudi had accepted the challenge. There was nothing to lose in trying to regain one’s dignity.

His stature was small, but his bark was loud. Shahroudi had proven he wasn’t afraid to bite, either. In the beginning, that bravado had been infectious, inspiring a confidence that Iran was well within its right to demand respect in the region. Shahroudi didn’t back down when threatened by talk from stronger nations. The goal of their peacekeeping diplomacy was to portray his defiance as the ramblings of a disturbed man. Openly calling for the destruction of Israel was like walking up to the lion exhibit at the zoo and sticking a pointed finger through its cage. The tough words had sounded good, but they came with a price. There was no talking around reality. Threats didn’t erase the vast sanctions that prevented business growth. Too many families struggled to make ends meet. Promises and dreams of a better life had gone unfulfilled.

Once Natanz had literally blown up in his face, the dog on the porch with a big bark suddenly had a leash around his neck. Gilani had heard an earful of concerns from powerful people. Aligning with this president wasn’t the best course of action to climb out of the muck he’d created.

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