193. The KGB in Iran: Defecting to MI6 with Ben Macintyre (Ep 1)
Summary
Ben Mcintyre discusses his book *Redwood*, detailing the story of KGB officer Vladimir Kuzichkin, who was recruited by MI6 in revolutionary Iran. Motivated by ideological disillusionment and a desperate need to cure his erectile dysfunction, Kuzichkin approached MI6 officer Ian Macready to spy for a year in exchange for Western medical treatment. The episode explores the high-stakes Cold War espionage in Tehran, the personal drama of Kuzichkin’s marriage, and how his intelligence helped shape the early days of the Iranian regime.
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