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IAEA accuses Iran
IAEA accuses Iran of hiding nuclear activities from its inspectors for 18 years, gives Tehran until the end of October to prove it is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program. In December, Iran tells IAEA it will suspend its uranium enrichment program and allow tougher U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities. -
Iran resumes uranium processing
Iran resumes uranium processing at its Isfahan nuclear plant in August, says the work is for peaceful purposes. In September, IAEA adopts a resolution accusing Iran of failing to comply with international nuclear safeguard agreements. -
Iran resumes uranium enrichment
Iran resumes uranium enrichment in February. IAEA refers Iran's activities to the U.N. Security Council in April. Council calls on Iran to stop enrichment by August 31 or face sanctions. Iran ignores the deadline. Council imposes a 1st round of sanctions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and ballistic missiles in December. -
Iran ignores another U.N. Security Council deadline
Iran ignores another U.N. Security Council deadline to stop uranium enrichment by February. Council adopts a second round of sanctions in March. In May, IAEA chief Mohamed Elbaradei says Iran is three to eight years away from being capable of producing a nuclear weapon. -
U.N. Security Council passes further sanctions
U.N. Security Council passes a third round of sanctions on Iran in March. The United States lobbies for additional U.N. sanctions, but Russia calls for more negotiations. -
Iran informs IAEA of intention to build uranium enrichment plant
In September, Iran informs the IAEA that it is building a uranium enrichment plant near Qom. IAEA censures Iran in November. IAEA proposes a fuel swap deal, under which Iran would send low-enriched uranium abroad for conversion into fuel for Tehran's medical research reactor. -
Iran responds to IAEA fuel swap deal
Iran responds to IAEA's fuel swap deal in February, saying any exchange of low-enriched uranium take place within Iranian territory. In May, Iran agrees to send its low-enriched uranium to Turkey. Western powers criticize the plan. U.N. Security Council approves a fourth round of sanctions against Iran in June. Iran holds nuclear talks with six world powers in Geneva in December, agrees to more talks in Istanbul in January. -
Talks with world powers fail
Iran's January talks with six world powers in Istanbul end in failure. IAEA chief Yukio Amano says in June that Iran may have carried out nuclear work with potential military dimensions and accuses Iran of not cooperating. Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects the allegations. In a November report, the IAEA says it has "serious concerns" about Iran's nuclear activities and says it wants to send a high-level mission to Iran to seek "clarifications" about Tehran's nuclear program.
