Set 18 months after season 7, the story arc involves Jack Bauer contending with assassination threats made during a peace conference between President of the United States Allison Taylor and President Omar Hassan of the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan (IRK), a country similar to Iran.[6] Kamistani terrorists, resentful of America and disappointed at Hassan's willingness to concede their attempts at developing nuclear weapons, turn against their country with the secret aid of the Russian mob, first attempting to assassinate Hassan and then to strike at America directly. Jack discovers the true masterminds behind the successful yet impromptu assassination of both president Hassan and Renee Walker are people working within the Russian government, and is willing to bring the culprits to justice at the cost of a third world war.