Tom Harris, portrayed by Gerard Butler, is a freelance undercover operative contracted by the CIA. His mission is to deploy malware within an Iranian nuclear research facility, and to maintain his cover, he poses as a field technician working for a Swiss communications contractor. The operation is a success, causing the facility to implode on itself.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government has its eyes on British journalist Luna Cujai, played by Nina Toussaint-White, who uncovers credible information from a whistleblower about the CIA’s persistent interference with Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Following the disaster at the facility, she is detained by Iranian security. During her interrogation, Luna suggests there may be a connection between the facility's destruction and a Belgian contractor due to the proximity of their operations to sensitive government installations.
Back in London, Tom’s personal life is fraught with tension; his wife wants a divorce, and he struggles to maintain a relationship with his daughter Ida, who is disheartened by his absences. On his way back from Iran, Tom experiences a flight delay in Dubai, where he meets with his CIA handler, Roman Chalmers. This encounter leads Tom to accept a lucrative contract for a job in Herat, Afghanistan, intended to obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities before they can construct a bomb. The plan involves creating a landing strip in Taybad, near the Afghan-Iran border.
Upon arrival in Herat, Tom’s identity as the operative behind the nuclear facility’s destruction is exposed due to an intelligence leak, prompting an urgent extraction effort. He collaborates with his Afghan-American translator, Mo, who is on a search mission of his own to find his wife’s sister, a former teacher now lost to the oppressive regime of the Taliban. With dangers closing in, Tom and Mo must evade both Iranian agents and a powerful Pakistani ISI operative, Kahil Nassir, who seeks to capture Tom and leverage him for bounty.
As the two navigate through deadly confrontations, Kahil eliminates the Iranian opposition, with Farzad Asadi, played by Bahador Foladi, surviving as a vengeful foe. While making their way toward safety, Tom and Mo suffer a harrowing attack from an Iranian helicopter, resulting in a serious injury for Mo. They find temporary refuge with an Afghan warlord who holds a deep-seated grudge against Mo, complicating their already perilous situation.
The film escalates as Kahil and his loyal forces close in. Tom and Mo are ultimately captured by a Taliban warlord but are soon rescued amidst chaos when Roman, who has shifted alliances, launches an assault to free them. The pace quickens as Kahil learns of Tom and the escape effort, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
As Tom and Mo approach the extraction point, a climactic confrontation takes place. Roman sacrifices himself to ensure their escape, performing a final act of defiance against Kahil. In the end, the CIA intervenes with a decisive missile strike that facilitates their flight to safety aboard a British military cargo plane from Kandahar. The aftermath sees Tom reunited with his daughter, while Mo finds solace with his family once again. However, the shadow of danger remains as Kahil survives, leaving the door open for future confrontations.
