Synopsis
In the Summer of 2011, Amir Hekmati travels to Iran to visit his relatives for the first time. 3 weeks into the trip, and only a few days before his return home, he is abruptly detained by Iranian Intelligence operatives, and imprisoned. Amir’s arrest coincides with the US arrest of Iranian National, Mansour Arbabsiar in NYC, the man convicted of attempting to blow up the Saudi Embassy in Washington D.C. Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine and Combat Veteran, is subjected to torture, sentenced to death by hanging, and ultimately endures close to 5 years in Evin Prison while negotiations for a prisoner swap are underway. Amir details his story of survival under the horrific conditions he endured. After a 18 month period of solitary confinement, Amir is sent to a maximum security prison where his cellmates are career Iranian operatives arrested for having worked for the CIA, the Israeli Mossad, and British MI6. In exclusive, never before told details, Amir tells the stories of those imprisoned for having been on the front line of the covert war being waged between the USA, and Iran as told to him by career Iranian spies. Amir’s story is also one of high stakes diplomacy at the highest levels of the US and Iranian Governments. President Obama, Secretary Kerry, US Military Generals, celebrities, politicians, and everyday Americans unite in a multi-year campaign to bring an American home. In Crossfire: Trapped in the US-Iran Covert War Amir takes the reader through a journey of covert war, high-stakes diplomacy, and what it is like to be caught in the crossfire.