The general expected that and procrastinated "Naturally, I cannot give the details of the meetings. But the two press conferences that are held at this very moment in Tehran and Tel-Aviv will elaborate what each side gave and what it received. Next question."
The CNN correspondent insisted and said "A follow up question, general. Why would the Iranians make such a gesture of goodwill. They had publicly and persistently blamed the Israelis for murdering their scientists. What changed their attitude?"
The general was becoming impatient "This is the last question and my answer is the same. Each side will explain what it received and what it had given at the press conferences that are held at this very moment in Tehran and Tel-Aviv. Thank you all for coming here".
Imam Mourtashef stood in front of the raised podium in the press room at the Majlis and waited for the small gathering of reporters from the electronic and printed media to focus on him. He said "I am glad to announce that the representative of the Zionist Entity acknowledged its indirect responsibility for attacking our brave nuclear scientists. The Supreme Leader and the Council have accepted their apology that these heinous acts were carried out by a former agent of Mossad. As a gesture of our goodwill we have agreed to release two of the secret agents that are held as our prisoners. Thank you all for attending."
There were no questions in line with the usual practice in these events. After the press conference the Imam went straight to Evin Prison. First he went to laboratory in Basement S to oversee the activities there. Dr. Fathi was surprised to see him again, just a week after his previous visit. The Imam went directly to the "hot cell" where he had seen the metallic sphere on his last visit and was disappointed to see that it was in exactly the same position. He looked at Fathi and raised his bushy eyebrows with an unspoken question.
Fathi said "Honorable Imam, as I told you on your last visit the core of the nuclear device, the fissile material, is ready. We are now working on the implosion mechanism that includes the conventional explosive that will compress the core to a supercritical mass and the triggering system that will provide the simultaneous and perfectly symmetrical detonation. In addition we are working on the packaging of the device to ensure that it is shielded from external electromagnetic radiation and that it withstands the perils involved in its transportation. These things require careful testing to ensure that the device works as planned and they cannot be rushed. Before you go I would like to show you the chemicals from which we have produced the metallic sphere."
Fathi led the Imam to a nearby chemical hood in which a sealed plastic vessel with a green powder could be seen. He lifted it and said "This is what is called "green salt" for reasons that are obvious. From this we produce the fissile metal — plutonium or enriched uranium — from which the sphere you saw there is composed". As he pointed at the "hot cell" where the sphere was on display the plastic vessel slipped from his grasp and some very fine green powder escaped. Fathi immediately summoned two of his lab assistants and told the Imam to stand still. The two men quickly donned protective clothing that included a coverall suit, hoods, gloves and boots and paraphernalia needed for decontamination. One of them rushed the Imam and Fathi to a shower while the other one started collecting the precious green powder from the floor. Fathi kept apologizing until the Imam cut him short and told him to keep quiet. Meanwhile the lab assistant used a radiation detector to examine them and their clothes and with great relief assured them that they were at no risk.
The Imam left the laboratory swearing that Dr. Fathi had crossed the line this time and was determined to punish him immediately after the nuclear device was ready. He made his way to the cell in which the Israeli hostages were held. As he approached "Fatso" stood up and came to attention. The Imam just signaled for him to open the cell door. The prisoners were lined up against the wall facing away from the door. The Imam spoke softly "Please turn around and look at me. I have some great news for you. We have started negotiations with the Zionist Entity from which you all come and have agreed to release one of you immediately as a gesture of goodwill and good faith. The rest of you will also be released pending the progress of the talks." He had to stop talking until the excited buzz in the cell ceased. He continued "I have elected you" pointing at Vicki Aladgem, but before he could say another word she cried out in Hebrew "I'll not leave without my husband". The Imam didn't need a translator to understand what was going on.
Morris hugged his wife and whispered something in her ear. She shook her head and clung to him. He tried to console her but she would not listen. Zorik saw what was going on and understood that the Aladgems would not be separated without the use of force. He intervened "Honorable Imam, I think that after so many years of marriage they cannot bear to be separated. Could you please choose someone else, or better yet, release the two of them together?"
The Imam instinctive reaction was to forcefully remove Vicki from her husband, but then thought about Zorik's suggestion for another moment. He realized that the buzz in the world press that would be created by an even more extensive show of generosity would greatly serve his grand plan. He said "I am touched by the faithfulness of this old couple. I'll release the two of them, as you proposed Zorik, but they will have to publicly praise our compassionate treatment of our hostages."
Zorik explained to the Aladgems in Hebrew that they should acknowledge the Imam's generosity. Both of them got down on their knees and hugged the Imam's feet. Vicki even took off her scarf and dusted the Imam's shoes to remove some tiny green specks that she saw. The Imam looked down and motioned for them to rise. He told them to pack their meager belongings and follow him out of the cell. The suddenness of the change of the fate of Morris and Vicki affected all the hostages. Except for Zorik there was not a dry eye in the prison cell. Even "Fatso" appeared to be moved by the raw emotions. After all, the Aladgems were at his mercy for about two months and he got to know them a little and was impressed by their mutual care and devotion.
The Imam left the prison with the two hostages and made the necessary arrangements to have them taken to the airfield where the private jet was waiting. The Iranian markings were covered temporarily by a sheet of silver paint. The pilot already had filed a flight plan that would take him from Tehran to Tel-Aviv — a route that wasn't in use since Khumeini's 1979 Islamic revolution. The flight plan was cleared by the air controllers in Turkey and had to circumvent the unsafe airspace of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Morris and Vicki were seated in the back of the plane. No shackles or even plastic ties were needed this time. After take-off a male steward offered them tea and pastries but they were too excited and just shook their heads.
The press conference in Tel-Aviv was held at Ben-Gurion airport. The walls of the press room in Terminal 3 had witnessed many press conferences, mainly with officials and dignitaries, but there had never been such an emotional level of expectations. The old terminal had seen Israeli soldiers being returned from captivity in Egypt and Syria after the 1973 Yom Kippur War and of some live hostages and several dead bodies, but that terminal was now almost deserted. The Minister of Defense hosted the press conference with Shimony as Mossad Head at his side, while David stood in the wings and out of sight. The Minister of Defense opened by saying that the Prime Minister had some prior obligation and could not attend the conference. A few of the participants knew that the PM's granddaughter was one of the hostages who were still being incarcerated in Evin Prison. Obviously had she been on the plane then no prior obligation in the world would have kept him away. The Defense Minister continued by reading a formal statement "The State of Israel gratefully acknowledges the humanitarian gesture of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This could be the beginning of a new phase in the relations between our two countries. We have managed to convince the Iranians that Israel and Mossad had no hand in the tragic fate that befell some of their leading nuclear scientists. Israel apologizes and regretfully acknowledges that these deeds were carried out by a firm located in Berlin that was founded and headed by a former Israeli civil servant in the Prime Minister's office". He stopped speaking as his adjutant entered the room and handed him a piece of paper. The Minister read the message and a broad smile crossed his face. He said "I have just been notified that the Iranians have released not one but two of the prisoners — Vicki and Morris Aladgem. They are now well on their way to this airport and we expect their plane to land here shortly."