It is election year on both sides of the Atlantic, the world is in a state of nuclear jumpiness, US President Johnny Cyclops is as popular as rabies. He realises there is only one option if he is to save the economic stability of the West.

In a wild and secret bid to restore US influence in the Middle East, President Cyclips has laid plans to help the late Shah's brother regain the throne of Iran. In London a new prime minister is about to take power.

The attempt to contact CIA agent Grodd to rescue the Hoppers has failed and he is now a prisoner of the KGB. The Shah is still trapped on a British cross channel ferry, but manages to set up a special CIA secret radio link to Grodd.