The precarious mission to sneak Brody into Iran nearly devolved into an irreparable disaster on the latest "Homeland." 

The nail-biting episode "Good Night" focused on Saul's (Mandy Patinkin) play to get Brody (Damian Lewis) across the Iran/Iraq border and seek political asylum in Iran by claiming responsibility for the Langley bombing. Brody is then poised to kill the leader of Iran's spy agency, allowing the other pawn in play—Deputy Intelligence Chief, funder of terrorism and CIA informant Majid Javadi (Shaun Toub)—to rise to the top of the agency. 

The plan appears to be going smoothly until Brody and undercover Navy SEALS begin driving to the Iranian border. Iraqi police threaten to shoot them dead, believing they are harboring Al Qaeda terrorists. This prompts one of the SEALs to say the code words "good night," signaling that they will take their enemies out. 

After shooting them dead, Brody and one of the SEALS are driving toward the border when they hit an IED.

Back at CIA headquarters, Carrie (Claire Danes) fears that they are both dead, until the screen shows two figures emerging from the wreckage. Brody is alive and relatively unscathed, but the SEAL has lost a leg. They take cover and Brody tries to stop the SEALS' bleeding. 

Once the other SEALS come to their aid, Iraqi military officers open fire. A dejected Saul reluctantly aborts the mission, realizing that the military would shoot Brody dead if he stepped out into the open. 

However, Brody says he will not retreat. Carrie tries to talk some sense into him via a satellite phone, but Brody insists on going through with the mission, seeing as he is only 300 yards from the Iranian border. 

Brody runs out, barely escaping rapid gunfire. He makes it to the border, and a SEAL runs after him. 

Blinding lights turn on to reveal a horde of Iranian soldiers pointing their guns at them. Brody explains who he is and that he is seeking asylum. The soldiers take both of them and throw them in a cell. 

Meanwhile, Carrie goes to CIA analyst Fara Sherazi (Nazanin Boniadi) to convince her to let her uncle in Iran provide a safe house for Brody. 

At the episode's end, Javadi comes to Brody's cell and shoots the SEAL dead. He then tells Brody, "Now we go to Tehran." 

On the next episode, "Big Man in Tehran," "Brody's loyalty to the mission wavers when he meets a ghost from his past. Meanwhile, Lockhart's confirmation looms; and Saul stares into the precipice between success and failure." 

A preview scene released from the next episode shows Saul updating the CIA with more information about his play with Brody. Saul explains to his colleagues how Brody will kill the leader of the Revolutionary Guard. 

Watch the clip below for "Big Man in Tehran," which airs Sunday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. EST on Showtime.