TIMELINE: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Here is a month-by-month and year-by-year report on Iran's nuclear program as reported by ALJAZEERA, the largest news agency in the Middle East.


Timeline: Iran's nuclear programme

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2007/12/20085251853218888.html

Iran broke the UN seals on the Natanz enrichment facility in January 2006 [EPA]2002August - The exiled opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran reports the existence of an uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and a heavy water plant at Arak.

December - The United States accuses Iran of an "across-the-board pursuit of weapons of mass destruction".2003

February - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspects the Natanz and Arak facilities.
June - An IAEA report on the inspections says that Iran has failed to comply with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.2004

Iran insists that its nuclear programmeis for civilian purposes [EPA]November - Iran promises EU negotiators it will suspend all nuclear fuel processing and reprocessing work.2005

September 2 - IAEA report says that Iran has resumed uranium conversion at the Isfahan nuclear research facility.2006

January 10 - Iran resumes nuclear fuel research at the Natanz enrichment plant after breaking the UN seals on the facility.

February 4 - IAEA votes to report Iran to the UN Security Council.

February 5 - Iran ends snap UN nuclear inspections.

April 11 - Iran announces it has produced low-grade enriched uranium suitable for use in power stations, a move confirmed by the IAEA
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February 14 - Iran restarts small-scale feeding of uranium gas into centrifuges at Natanz after a two-and-a-half year suspension.

June 5 - Javier Solana, European Union foreign policy chief, delivers a package of incentives from world powers if Iran agrees to halt uranium enrichment.

August 31 - The IAEA announces Iran has not met a deadline to suspend its atomic fuel programme.

December 23 - Security Council votes for sanctions and gives Iran a 60-day deadline to suspend enrichment. Iran calls the resolution illegal.2007

March 24 - The Security Council unanimously approves further financial and weapons sanctions against Iran.

April 18 - The IAEA says Iran has begun making nuclear fuel in an underground uranium enrichment plant.

May 23 - A confidential IAEA report says Iran has not suspended enrichment-related work.

August 21 - Iran and the IAEA say they have agreed a timeline for answering the watchdog's outstanding questions about Iran's nuclear programme.

Saeed Jalili replaced Ali Larijani as chief nuclear negotiator in October [AFP]October 20 - Saeed Jalili is named as Iran's new chief nuclear negotiator. He replaces Ali Larijani, who resigned.

October 24 - The US imposes new sanctions on Iran and accuses the elite Revolutionary Guard of spreading weapons of mass destruction.

November 2 - Britain, France, Germany, the US, Russia and China (the group of six) agree to push ahead with a third round of tougher sanctions.

November 15 - The IAEA says Iran has made important strides towards transparency but it remains unable to ascertain whether Iran has a secret, parallel military enrichment programme.

November 30 - The EU expresses disappointment with Iran after more talks with its main nuclear negotiator in London.

December 1 - A meeting of world powers in Paris fails to reach an agreement on further sanctions.

December 3 - A US National Intelligence Estimate says Iran halted its attempts to build a nuclear bomb in 2003.


December 5 - Victory over the US is declared by Ahmadinejad

December 11 - Opposition coalition NCRI says that Iran's programme was shut down in 2003 and re-started a year later, adding that the recent US analysis was misleading.

2008
March 3 - UN Security Council adopts third sanctions resolution targeted at Iran's nuclear programme.

May 14 - Russia's foreign minister says an offer to negotiate and security guarantees for Iran could be given by the group of six. The US administration denies that security guarantees were being considered.

May 26 - The IAEA says Iran's alleged research into nuclear warheads is a matter of serious concern and asks for more information on Tehran's missile-related activities.

June 1 - In reaction to the IAEA's report, Tehran says it might have to limit cooperation with them.

June 14 - Solana, in Tehran, presents Iran with an offer from world powers with economic and other benefits. However, Iran rejects any suspension of activities.

July 10 - Iran tests nine missiles in the Gulf.