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Right here’s a take a look at Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Since 2003, worldwide concern over Iran’s nuclear program has elevated as Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spar over investigation and particulars of Iran’s program. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly denied Iran is constructing a bomb and says weapons of mass destruction are forbidden underneath Islam.
1957 – America indicators a civil nuclear cooperation settlement with Iran.
1958 – Iran joins the IAEA.
1967 – The Tehran Nuclear Analysis Middle, which features a small reactor provided by america, opens.
1968 – Iran indicators the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Mid-1970s – With US backing, Iran begins creating a nuclear energy program.
1979 – Iran’s Islamic revolution ends Western involvement within the nation’s nuclear program.
December 1984 – With the help of China, Iran opens a nuclear analysis middle in Isfahan.
February 23, 1998 – America proclaims considerations that Iran’s nuclear power program might result in the event of nuclear weapons.
March 14, 2000 – US President Bill Clinton indicators a regulation that permits sanctions in opposition to individuals and organizations that present help to Iran’s nuclear program.
February 21, 2003 – IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei visits Iran to survey its nuclear services and to encourage Iran to signal a protocol permitting IAEA inspectors larger and quicker entry to nuclear websites. Iran declines to signal the protocol. ElBaradei says he should settle for Iran’s assertion that its nuclear program is for producing energy and never weapons, regardless of claims of america on the contrary.
June 19, 2003 – The IAEA points a report saying that Iran seemed to be in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty, however that it wanted to be extra open about its actions.
August 2003 – The IAEA proclaims that its inspectors in Iran have discovered traces of extremely enriched uranium on the Natanz uranium enrichment plant. Iran claims the quantities are contamination from gear purchased from different international locations. Iran agrees to signal a protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty that permits for unannounced visits to their nuclear services and indicators it on December 18, 2003.
October 2003 – The International Ministers of Britain, France and Germany go to Tehran, and all events agree upon measures Iran will take to settle all excellent points with the IAEA. Beneath obligation to the IAEA, Iran releases a file on its nuclear actions. Nonetheless, the report doesn’t include data on the place Iran acquired parts for centrifuges used to counterpoint uranium, a reality the IAEA considers necessary in figuring out whether or not the uranium is to be enriched for weapons.
November 2003 – Iran agrees to halt uranium enrichment as a confidence constructing measure and accepts IAEA verification of suspension.
December 2003 – Iran signs the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with the IAEA voluntarily agreeing to broader inspections of its nuclear services.
February 2004 – A.Q. Khan, “father” of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, admits to having supplied Iran and different international locations with uranium-enrichment gear.
June 1, 2004 – The IAEA states they’ve discovered traces of uranium that exceed the quantity used for common power manufacturing. Iran admits that it’s importing elements for superior centrifuges that can be utilized to counterpoint uranium, however is utilizing the elements to generate electrical energy.
July 31, 2004 – Iran states that it has resumed manufacturing on centrifuge elements used for enriching uranium, however not enrichment actions.
August 8, 2005 – Iran restarts uranium conversion, a step on the best way to enrichment, at a nuclear facility, saying it’s for peaceable functions solely, and flatly rejects a European supply geared toward guaranteeing the nation doesn’t search nuclear weapons.
August 9, 2005 – Iran removes the IAEA seals from its Isfahan nuclear processing facility, opening the uranium conversion plant for full operation. IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky states that the plant “is totally monitored by the IAEA” and “will not be a uranium enrichment plant.”
September 11, 2005 – Iran’s new overseas minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, says the nation received’t droop actions at its Isfahan uranium conversion facility and it plans to hunt bids for the development of two extra nuclear crops.
January 10, 2006 – Iran resumes analysis at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant, arguing that doing so is inside the phrases of an settlement with the IAEA.
January 12, 2006 – International ministers of the EU3 (Nice Britain, France, Germany) suggest Iran’s referral to the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear program.
January 13, 2006 – Mottaki states that if Iran is referred, its authorities underneath regulation can be pressured to cease a few of its cooperation with the IAEA, together with random inspections.
February 4, 2006 – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad orders Iran to finish its cooperation with the IAEA.
April 11, 2006 – Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran’s former president, states that Iran has elevated the variety of functioning centrifuges in its nuclear services in Natanz and has produced enriched uranium from them.
August 31, 2006 – The IAEA points a report on Iran saying the Islamic republic “has not suspended its enrichment actions” regardless of at the present time’s deadline to take action. Iran can presumably face financial sanctions.
December 23, 2006 – The UN Safety Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions in opposition to Iran for failing to droop its nuclear program.
February 22, 2007 – The IAEA points an announcement saying that Iran has not complied with the UN Safety Council’s name for a freeze of all nuclear exercise. As a substitute, Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment program.
March 24, 2007 – The United Nations adopts Decision 1747 which toughens sanctions in opposition to Iran. The sanctions embrace the freezing of property of 28 people and organizations concerned in Iran’s nuclear and missile applications. A few third of these are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an elite army corp.
Might 23, 2007 – The IAEA delivers its report back to the United Nations on Iran’s nuclear actions. The report states that not solely has Iran failed to finish its uranium enrichment program however has the truth is expanded its exercise.
June 21, 2007 – Iran’s Inside Minister Mostapha PourMohamedi claims, “Now we’ve 3,000 centrifuges and have in our warehouses 100 kilograms of enriched uranium.” …”We even have greater than 150 tons of uncooked supplies for producing uranium fuel.”
December 2007 – A US intelligence report finds that Iran deserted a nuclear weapons program in 2003.
February 20, 2009 – The Institute for Science and Worldwide Safety experiences that Iranian scientists have reached “nuclear weapons breakout functionality.” The report concludes Iran doesn’t but have a nuclear weapon however does have sufficient low-enriched uranium for a single nuclear weapon. An official on the IAEA cautions about drawing such conclusions. The IAEA says Iran’s inventory of low-enriched uranium must be was extremely enriched uranium to change into weapons-grade materials.
February 25, 2009 – Iran runs assessments at its Bushehr nuclear energy plant utilizing “dummy” gas rods loaded with lead rather than enriched uranium to simulate nuclear gas. A information launch distributed to reporters on the scene states the check measured the “strain, temperature and movement charge” of the ability to ensure they had been at acceptable ranges. Officers say the following check will use enriched uranium, nevertheless it’s not clear when the check can be held or when the ability can be totally operational.
September 21, 2009 – In a letter to the IAEA, Iran reveals the existence of a second nuclear facility. It’s positioned underground at a army base, close to town of Qom.
October 25, 2009 – IAEA inspectors make their first go to to Iran’s newly disclosed nuclear facility close to Qom.
February 18, 2010 – In an announcement, the IAEA experiences that it believes Iran could also be working in secret to develop a nuclear warhead for a missile.
August 21, 2010 – Iran begins fueling its first nuclear power plant, within the metropolis of Bushehr.
December 5, 2010 – Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s atomic chief and appearing overseas minister, proclaims that Iran’s nuclear program is self-sufficient and that Iran has begun producing yellowcake, an intermediate stage in processing uranium.
January 8, 2011 – Salehi experiences that Iran can now create its personal nuclear gas plates and rods.
September 4, 2011 – Iran proclaims that its Bushehr nuclear energy plant joined the electrical grid September 3, making it the primary Center Japanese nation to provide industrial electrical energy from atomic reactors.
September 5, 2011 – In response to Iran’s nuclear chief stating that Iran will give the IAEA “full supervision” of its nuclear program for 5 years if UN sanctions are lifted, the European Union says that Iran should first adjust to worldwide obligations.
November 8, 2011 – The IAEA releases a report saying that it has “severe considerations” and “credible” data that Iran could also be creating nuclear weapons.
January 9, 2012 – The IAEA confirms that uranium enrichment has begun on the Fordo nuclear facility within the Qom province in northern Iran.
January 23, 2012 – The European Union proclaims it’ll ban the import of Iranian crude oil and petroleum merchandise.
January 29, 2012 – A six-member delegation from the IAEA arrives in Tehran for a three-day go to, shortly after the EU imposes new sanctions geared toward reducing off funding to the nuclear program.
January 31, 2012 – In Senate testimony James Clapper, Director of Nationwide Intelligence, says there’s no proof Iran is constructing a nuclear bomb. CIA Director David Petraeus agrees.
February 15, 2012 – Iran hundreds the primary domestically produced nuclear gas rods into the Tehran analysis reactor.
February 21, 2012 – After two days of talks in Iran in regards to the nation’s nuclear program, the IAEA expresses disappointment that no progress was made and that their request to go to the Parchin army base was denied.
March 28, 2012 – Discussions relating to Iran’s nuclear future stall.
April 14, 2012 – Talks resume between Iran and 6 world powers over Iranian nuclear ambitions in Istanbul, Turkey.
Might 25, 2012 – An IAEA report finds that environmental samples taken on the Fordo gas enrichment plant close to town of Qom have enrichment ranges of as much as 27%, larger than the earlier stage of 20%.
June 18-19, 2012 – A gathering is held between Iran and the P5+1 (United States, France, Russia, China, Nice Britain and Germany) in Moscow. No settlement is reached.
June 28, 2012 – Iranian negotiator, Saeed Jalili writes to European Union overseas coverage chief Catherine Ashton warning world powers to keep away from “unconstructive measures” such because the oil embargo that’s about to enter impact and that was agreed upon by the EU in January.
July 1, 2012 – A full embargo of Iranian oil from the EU takes impact.
August 30, 2012 – A UN report finds that Iran has stepped up its manufacturing of high-grade enriched uranium and has re-landscaped Parchin, one in every of its army bases, in an obvious effort to hamper a UN inquiry into the nation’s nuclear program.
September 24, 2013 – Throughout a speech on the UN Basic Meeting, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says, “Nuclear weapons and different weapons of mass destruction haven’t any place in Iran’s safety and protection doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions.”
October 16, 2013 – The newest discussions between Iran and the six world powers middle on a proposal put forth by Iran to acknowledge the peaceable nature of its nuclear power pursuits. The meeting is described as “substantive and forward-looking.”
November 24, 2013 – Six world powers and Iran reach an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. The deal calls on Iran to limit its nuclear activities in return for lighter sanctions.
January 20, 2014 – Iran’s nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi tells state-run information company IRNA that Iran has started suspending high levels of uranium enrichment.
January 20, 2014 – The European Union proclaims that it has suspended sure sanctions in opposition to Iran for six months.
February 20, 2014 – Following talks in Vienna, EU overseas coverage chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian International Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announce {that a} deal on the framework for complete negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program has been reached.
April 2, 2015 – Negotiators from Iran, america, China, Germany, France, Britain and Russia attain a framework for an agreement on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which incorporates reducing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%.
April 9, 2015 – Rouhani proclaims that Iran will solely signal a ultimate nuclear settlement if financial sanctions are lifted on the first day of implementation.
July 14, 2015 – A deal is reached on Iran’s nuclear program. The Joint Complete Plan of Motion (JCPOA) reduces the variety of Iranian centrifuges by two-thirds. It locations bans on enrichment at key services, and limits uranium analysis and growth to the Natanz facility.
July 20, 2015 – The UN Safety Council endorses the nuclear deal.
January 16, 2016 – IAEA Director Basic Yukiya Amano says Iran has accomplished all the required steps agreed underneath the nuclear deal, and that every one members can begin implementing the JCPOA.
March 8-9, 2016 – Iran test-fires two Qadr ballistic missiles throughout a large-scale army drill, based on Iran’s state-run Press TV. US officials say that the tests do not violate the JCPOA but are very likely in breach of a UN resolution calling on Iran not to undertake ballistic missile activity.
January 29, 2017 – Iran launches a medium-range ballistic missile, its first missile check since Donald Trump grew to become US president, however the check fails, based on data given to CNN by a US protection official.
February 3, 2017 – In response to the January 29 missile check, the US Treasury Department says it is applying sanctions on 25 people and firms related to Iran’s ballistic missile program and people offering assist to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Power. Flynn says the assessments had been in defiance of a UN Safety Council decision that bars Iran from taking steps on a ballistic missile program able to launching nuclear weapons.
October 13, 2017 – Trump decertifies Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement, declaring that the Obama-era pact was not in US pursuits and unveiling a troublesome new coverage towards the Islamic Republic. The transfer stops wanting fully scrapping the settlement, as a substitute kicking it to Congress, who then has 60 days to find out a path ahead. Congress permits the 60-day deadline to go with out motion.
Might 8, 2018 – Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from the JCPOA and can be imposing “the very best stage of financial sanctions” in opposition to Iran. In Tehran, Rouhani says Iran will take a number of weeks to resolve how to answer the US withdrawal, however Rouhani says he had ordered the country’s “atomic industry organization” to be prepared to “start our industrial enrichment without limitations.”
Might 21, 2018 – Talking on the Heritage Basis, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is “open to new steps” with Iran, together with a diplomatic relationship. A part of 12 preconditions: Iran should acknowledge previous army dimensions of its nuclear program and increase entry given to nuclear inspectors. America will then be prepared to finish sanctions, re-establish industrial relationships and permit Iran to have superior know-how.
March 22, 2019 – The US State and Treasury departments sanction 14 individuals and 17 entities linked to SPND, Iran’s group for protection, innovation and analysis. In saying the sanctions, senior administration officers counsel repeatedly that the existence of SPND and its subordinate organizations might present cowl for them to proceed missile-related exercise.
Might 8, 2019 – Rouhani announces a partial withdrawal from the JCPOA.
Might 16, 2019 – A US official with knowledge of the situation tells CNN that there are a number of photos of economic Iranian ships carrying missiles and different munitions.
June 17, 2019 – Iran has increased its low-enriched uranium production and in 10 days will pass the 300 kilogram limit it’s allowed to stockpile underneath the nuclear deal, based on Kamalvandi.
July 7, 2019 – On the finish of a 60-day ultimatum which Iran gave to the JCPOA’s European signatories to ease sanctions, spokesman Ali Rabiei says Iran will enrich uranium past the agreed upon limit of 3.67% purity.
September 23, 2019 – In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Zarif outlines a proposal for an agreement that would augment the defunct nuclear deal. In return for lifting sanctions, Iran could be ready to signal a further protocol, permitting for extra intrusive inspections of the nation’s nuclear services at an earlier date than that set out beforehand. Khamenei would additionally enshrine a ban on nuclear weapons in regulation, Zarif says.
September 26, 2019 – Rouhani confirms a report by Reuters that Iran is using advanced models of centrifuges to enrich uranium. He says Iran has no plans to extend the enrichment stage and can resume talks with america if sanctions are lifted.
November 5, 2019 – Rouhani announces Iran will begin injecting uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges that had been spinning empty at its Fordow plant. The transfer marks a break from the phrases of the accord, which restricted Iran to working round 5,000 older-model centrifuges.
December 4, 2019 – The United Nations releases a letter authored by ambassadors from France, Germany and the United Kingdom who allege that Iran has developed nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. The letter lists 4 examples and cites footage of a check flight of a brand new Shahab-Three ballistic missile, which has a booster “technically able to delivering a nuclear weapon.”
January 5, 2020 – After a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran announces that it will no longer limit itself to restrictions contained in the JCPOA. In an announcement, Iran signifies it “will return to JCPOA limits as soon as all sanctions are faraway from the nation.”
March 3, 2020 – In a report back to member states, and obtained by CNN, the IAEA says that Tehran’s stockpiles of low enriched uranium now far exceed 300 kilograms, the limit set by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The report notes that Iran has practically tripled its stockpile of low enriched uranium since November 2019, indicating a big bounce in manufacturing.
November 27, 2020 – Based on Iran’s semi-official information company, ISNA, Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is killed in an apparent assassination. Fakhrizadeh was head of the analysis middle of recent know-how within the Revolutionary Guards, and was a number one determine in Iran’s nuclear program.
December 2, 2020 – Iran’s parliament passes a invoice that will boost uranium enrichment to pre-2015 levels and block nuclear inspections if sanctions are usually not lifted, within the wake of the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.
January 4, 2021 – Iran proclaims that it has resumed enriching uranium to 20% purity, far beyond the limits laid out in the 2015 nuclear deal, in a transfer more likely to additional escalate tensions with america.
February 18, 2021 – The Biden Administration proclaims that the US is prepared to take a seat down for talks with Tehran and different signatories to the Iran nuclear deal and obtain a mutual return to compliance with JCPOA. Lower than two weeks later, Iran rejects an offer by the European Union for direct talks with P5+1 international locations.
September 12. 2021 – Iran says it will allow inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog to service nuclear monitoring equipment in the country, according to a joint statement by officials from Iran and the IAEA.
November 29, 2021 – The parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reconvene in Vienna to restart Iran nuclear talks, as america emphasizes it’s “ready to make use of different choices” if diplomacy fails.
February 4, 2022 – The Biden administration restores a sanctions waiver that may permit international locations to cooperate with Iran on civil nuclear initiatives. The transfer takes place every week after talks adjourn. US officers have warned that there are solely weeks left to return to the deal given Iran’s speedy nuclear developments. Tehran has referred to as for broad sanctions reduction earlier than coming again into compliance with the deal.