Iran
Historical Chronology

Additional US measures against Iran that targeted the country’s energy and banking sectors went into effect.

The Council approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran after consultations and a private meeting the day before to debate the final text. (Twelve members voted in favour of the resolution, Brazil and Turkey voted against and Lebanon abstained.)

President Lula of Brazil wrote to the presidents of France, Mexico, Russia and the US on 25 May arguing that Iran's openness to a fuel swap plan showed that Iran was ready for further dialogue, and saying that Brazil continued to oppose new sanctions on the country. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the fuel swap plan was a “transparent ploy” to avoid further Council action.

President Lula of Brazil said that since Iran had proven willing to engage in negotiations on the nuclear issue that the rest of the international community should also focus on negotiating a solution, while Brazil's Foreign Minister said the issue of uranium enrichment had not been part of discussions with Iran because Brazil had not been warned that a new sanctions resolution would continue until concessions were made on enrichment activities. The US removed domestic sanctions that had been imposed on several Russian entities, including the government arms export agency, for past transfers of weapons and related technology to Iran.

Brazil, Turkey and Iran announced that Iran had indicated its agreement to a fuel swap plan after meeting bilaterally.

In a new report  on Iran’s implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement and relevant Council resolutions, the IAEA said that Iran had still not supplied information and access necessary to resolve questions about possible military dimensions to its nuclear programme. Going further than previous reports it pointed out that information available to the IAEA, obtained from a variety of generally consistent and credible sources, "raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile".

8 February 2010

 IAEA received a letter noting Iran’s announcement that it would begin producing enriched fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), and revising the design information for its Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) at Natanz to include the production of enriched uranium up to 20 percent. On the same day, a second letter notified the Agency that Iran would transfer some low enriched uranium (LEU) to the PFEP the next day.

16 January 2010

E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) met in New York to discuss next steps on Iran. The chair of the meeting, EU’s political director Robert Cooper, said in an agreed statement that the six countries had concluded that Iran’s response was “inadequate”. While they remained committed to a dual-track approach involving a negotiated solution, “consideration of appropriate further measures” had begun.

10 December 2009

The chairman of the Iran Sanctions Committee, Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu briefed the Council. Takasu confirmed that the Committee had received reports from three states of violations by Iran of the provisions of resolution 1747 imposing an export ban on arms and related materials.

27 November 2009

The Board of Governors of IAEA adopted a resolution expressing concern at Iran’s continued defiance of IAEA and Council demands and at its failure to notify the IAEA of the planned new enrichment facility at Qom. The resolution urged Iran to comply with all its international legal obligations (including by suspending immediately construction at Qom), and to engage with the IAEA on all outstanding issues (including by clarifying all aspects of the Qom facility). It also called on Iran to comply with its safeguards obligations and implement and ratify the additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  Twenty-five of the 35 Board members, including China and Russia, voted in favour of the resolution, the first adopted on Iran since 2006. 

20 November 2009

Representatives from the E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) met in Brussels and urged Iran to accept the offer to process its low-enriched uranium in Russia and France for use in the Tehran Research Reactor.

18 November 2009

Iran's position became more unclear when Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki suggested that Iran might not allow its low-enriched uranium to be taken out of the country for further processing.

5 November 2009

Israel wrote to the Council complaining that a ship it had intercepted the previous day, the cargo vessel Francop originating in Iran and bound for Syria, had been carrying hundreds of tonnes of arms.

26-27 October 2009

IAEA inspectors visited the recently-disclosed nuclear facility north of the Iranian city of Qom

1 October 2009

E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) held talks with Iran in Geneva.

9 September 2009

The Council was briefed by the Chair of the 1737 Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan.  

19 August 2009

Ahmadinejad presented his proposed cabinet to the parliament for approval.

13 August 2009

A group of UN human rights rapporteurs and independent experts expressed concern about allegations of torture against detained protestors and reports of people dying in custody.

9 August 2009

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice condemned what she said were Iran’s "show trials" for demonstrators who had been arrested following the election.

8-10 July 2009

G8 leaders deplored the post-election violence in Iran. G8 members also noted that Iran persists in refusing to meet its international obligations with regard to its nuclear programme.

19 June 2009

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced concerns about human rights violations against demonstrators protesting the outcome of the presidential elections in Iran.

12 June 2009

Presidential elections were held. This was followed by disputes over the final election results.

20 May 2009

Iran announced that it had successfully test launched a missile which was later confirmed by US officials.

13 April 2009

 Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, told EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana that Iran welcomed discussions with the E3+3 and would soon unveil its official position.

8 April 2009

The E3+3 issued a statement welcoming the US intention to participate in future meetings of the E3+3 with Iran and requested a meeting with Iran.

19 March 2009

In a video message addressed to Iran on the occasion of the Persian New Year (Nowruz), US President Barack Obama said that his administration was now committed to using diplomacy to address the full range of issues and to pursuing constructive ties.

10 March 2009

The Council was briefed by the Chairman of the 1737 Sanctions Committee on Iran, Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu. He said that the Committee had received a letter from a member state seeking guidance regarding its inspection of a vessel carrying its flag and coming from Iran that had been found to be transporting arms related material.

19 February 2009

An IAEA report revealed that Iran had produced an additional 209 kilograms of low enriched uranium (LEU) since the previous report was issued in November, bringing the total amount of LEU produced by Iran to approximately 700 kilograms.

10 February 2009

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran was ready to engage in dialogue with the US in an atmosphere of equality and mutual respect.

4 February 2009

Representatives from the E3+3 met in Wiesbaden, Germany to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue. They reaffirmed their commitment to the dual-track approach and emphasised the need to pursue diplomacy. The new US administration’s instinct to engage in direct talks with Iran was encouraged.

3 February 2009

Iran launched its first satellite, underlining progress towards technology that could be employed for ballistic missiles. Also, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over reports that Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, had been threatened. Ban called on the Iranian authorities to take immediate measures to ensure her safety.

29 January 2009

A ship coming from Iran and bound for Syria was detained in Cyprus inspected following suspicions that it was transporting arms in contravention of resolution 1747. The result of the search was transmitted to the Sanctions Committee.

26 January 2009

The new US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said that President Barack Obama would engage in direct diplomacy with Iran but reminded Tehran to comply with Council demands to suspend uranium enrichment.

16 December 2008

A meeting of the E3+3 with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue was held at the margins of a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

19 November 2008

An IAEA Director General’s report on implementation by Iran of relevant Council resolutions was issued (GOV/2008/59).

26 September 2008

A draft resolution reaffirming Iran’s obligation to implement Council and IAEA resolutions was circulated.

15 September 2008

The IAEA Director General released a report on implementation by Iran of its NPT Safeguards Agreement and Council resolutions 1737, 1747 and 1803.

11 August 2008

Despite the breakdown of discussions on the E3+3 proposal, Jalili and Solana agreed in a telephone conversation to continue talks. 

8 August 2008

The EU amended its common position implementing Security Council sanctions against Iran. The new amendments slightly extended sanctions in resolution 1803 by calling on the EU’s financial institutions to exercise “restraint” (not just vigilance) on export credits, and decreeing that EU member states inspect Iran-bound cargoes. 

7 August 2008

In the absence of a clear response from Iran on an E3+3 package of poposals for renewed negotiations with Iran, the E3+3 agreed to consider further sanctions against Iran.  

28 July 2008

President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran now possessed between 5,000 and 6,000 nuclear centrifuges, almost twice what it disclosed in April 2007.

19 July 2008

Solana and representatives of the E3+3 met with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva to discuss a consolidated proposal for cooperation in several areas they sent to Iran to be used as a basis for renewed negotiations as soon as it suspends uranium enrichment (S/2008/393). Jalili avoided these issues leading the E3+3 to ask Jalili to provide a clearer answer to their proposal within two weeks.

15 July 2008

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was ready to open comprehensive negotiations but that it would never accept preconditions.  

9-10 July 2008

Iran conducted ballistic missile tests. In response the US said it was ready to defend its allies in the region if they are attacked.

14 June 2008

Javier Solana, the EU Foreign Policy Chief and E3+3 representative travelled to Iran with representatives from the E3 (France, Germany and the UK) and from China and Russia to present Iran a new offer for negotiations.  

13 June 2008

The Council heard a briefing by the Chairman of the  1737 Sanctions Committee, Belgian Ambassador Jan Grauls, on activities of the committee from 18 March to 13 June.

26 May 2008

The ElBaradei report on implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement and resolutions 1737, 1747 and 1803 in Iran was released, indicating that Iran continued to refuse to suspend uranium enrichment activities.

13 May 2008

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Iran affirmed that it was ready to negotiate with the E3+3 without preconditions. It included a package of proposals for negotiations on cooperation in political, security, economic and nuclear fields.

2 May 2008

The E3+3 foreign ministers met in London and agreed to put a new proposal to Iran with the condition that Iran suspends uranium enrichment.

24 April 2008

The 1737 Sanctions Commitee approved a revised guideline incorporating relevant provisions of resolution 1803, in addition to a consolidated list of individuals and entities subject to sanctions (S/PV.5909).

17 March 2008   

Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke, briefed the Council on the activities of the Sanctions Committee (S/PV.5853).

3 March 2008

Council members held a debate and adopted resolution 1803.

21 February 2008

A draft resolution based on elements agreed among the E3 plus 3 was introduced to the rest of the Council by the UK and France. It tightened sanctions against Iran because of its non-compliance with the two previous Council resolutions.

15 February 2008

Media reports revealed that the US shared intelligence data (from an Iranian laptop) with the IAEA showing that Iran tried previously to develop a nuclear weapon. Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, called the data “100 percent fabricated and forged.”

4 February 2008

Iran reported it had launched a rocket from its new space centre in the Semnan province. A Russian official said this raised suspicions about Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran also stated that it was testing an advanced nuclear centrifuge. The US said that this strengthened the case for a third sanctions resolution.

22 January 2008

The E3 plus 3 foreign ministers met in Berlin and agreed on elements for a new sanctions resolution.

11-12 January 2008

ElBaradei visited Iran and met Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran and the IAEA agreed that implementation of all remaining verification issues specified in the August 2007 work plan for resolving outstanding issues would be completed by 13 February.

6 January 2008

A naval incident between Iran and the US occurred in the Strait of Hormuz. The White House warned Iran that its action was provocative and dangerous. Iran accused the US of orchestrating a propaganda campaign.

18 December 2007

The Chairman of the 1737 Sanctions Committee reported to the Council on the Committee’s activities covering the period 20 September to 18 December and said that 87 member states had reported to the Committee on implementation of resolution resolution 1737, and 71 on implementation of resolution 1747. 

14 December 2007

In a statement, the EU renewed support for additional UN sanctions and additional unilateral measures as well. 

13 December 2007

Russia and Iran signed an agreement to complete the Bushehr nuclear plant project. Delivery of fuel, which had been delayed several times, began in December. The US said that Iran need not continue its enrichment programme, as fuel was available.

11 December 2007

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad portrayed the NIE report’s conclusions as a “victory” for Iran. He also said there should be dialogue with the US. Former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani also suggested that the E3+3 should hold face-to-face talks with Iran.

3 December 2007

A new US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) was published indicating that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.

1 December 2007

E3+3 political directors met and agreed that, with no new opening from Iran, work on elements of a new resolution should start.

30 November 2007

EU envoy Javier Solana and the Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili met in London to discuss renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. Solana later described the talks as “disappointing”.

22 November 2007

An IAEA report on the implementation of the Safeguards Agreement and resolutions 1737 and 1747 in Iran was considered by the IAEA Board meeting, Mohamed elBaradei briefed the board saying that the implementation was on schedule.

19 November 2007

An E3+3 meeting due to take place in Brussels to discuss the way forward was postponed after China was unable to attend.

13 November 2007

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Iran. He urged President Ahmadinejad to halt the uranium enrichment programmeand acknowledged Iran’s right to peacefully use nuclear energy.

2 November 2007

The E3+3 Political Directors met in London and reaffirmed their position as expressed in the 28 September 2007 statement.

23 October 2007

Solana and the new Iranian nuclear negotiator met in Rome to discuss Iran's nuclear programme. Both sides described those talks as "constructive," but there was no movement on the issue of uranium enrichment suspension, and in a statement made on the same day, Iranian President Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not retreat "one iota" from its nuclear programme.

20 October 2007

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani resigned and was replaced by Said Jalili, a close ally of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

16 October 2007

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad at a summit meeting in Iran.  It seems they discussed the nuclear power plant Russia is building in Bushehr, and cooperation on space, aviation and energy.

15 October 2007

EU foreign ministers discussed French proposals to reinforce EU unilateral sanctions before another Security Council resolution. A statement was adopted, saying "the EU will consider what additional measures it might take in order to support the UN process."

28 September 2007

A ministerial meeting of the EU3+3 took place on the margins of the General Assembly in New York. They adopted a statement reflecting a new "dual track" approach.

25 September 2007

During his speech to the UN General Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he considered the dispute over Iran's nuclear program as closed and that it had "turned into an ordinary Agency [IAEA] matter".

21 September 2007

An EU3+3 meeting was held in Washington. It seems that theree was no agreement on a way forward.

19 September 2007

The chairman of the Iran Sanctions Committee briefed the Council and said that 81 countries had reported to the Committee on measures taken to implement resolution 1737 and 67 countries had reported on implementation of resolution 1747.

10-14 September 2007

The IAEA Board met. IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei asked Iran to allow wider-ranging inspections and to resolve the outstanding issues and suspend uranium enrichment activities. He also reiterated his call for a "double time-out" suspending all enrichment-related activities and sanctions simultaneously in order to create space for negotiations.

30 August 2007

The report of the Director General of the IAEA on implementation of the Non Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement in Iran and resolutions 1737 and 1747 was published.

Iran released on bail the Iranian-American academic Haleh Esfandiari who had been arrested in May in Iran on espionage charges.

20-21 August 2007

A last round of talks was held between the IAEA and Iranian officials in Tehran. A timetable and modalities for Iran to respond to questions about its nuclear activities and to provide for more effective inspections of facilities was agreed.

15 August 2007

The US administration designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation.

31 July 2007

IAEA inspectors visited Iran's Arak research nuclear reactor which is designed for producing plutonium. Also, an arms deal was signed between the US and various Arab allies. US officials have said that one goal was to counter the growing power of Iran. Finally, the Deutsche Bank announced its decision to cease doing business involving Iran.

24 July 2007

Another round of talks between the US and Iranian ambassadors to Baghdad was held and focused on Iraq's security situation.

11-12 July 2007

An action plan for resolving the outstanding issues between the IAEA and Iran was prepared during an IAEA visit to Iran.  

23 June 2007

Ali Larjani and Javier Solana met again.

22 June 2007

ElBaradei and Larijani met in Vienna, agreeing to draw up an action plan to resolve outstanding issues between the IAEA and Iran.

8 June 2007

In a final statement, the G8 deplored Iran's failure to meet its obligations under Council resolutions and supported additional measures should Iran further refuse to comply.

3 June 2007

Tensions between Iran and the international community increase following President Ahmadinejad's remarks calling for "the destruction of the Zionist regime." France and the US pushed the Council to adopt a press statement condemning these remarks, but no consensus could be reached.

31 May 2007

The EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana met Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani in Spain. Larijani suggested that Iran was ready to better cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

14 May 2007

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani announced that suspension of uranium enrichment would not be negotiated.

10 May 2007

The EU3+3 met in Berlin and reaffirmed that a negotiated solution was their goal but agreed to start work on a third resolution imposing additional sanctions.

2 May 2007

EU3+3 met in London.

30 April-11 May 2007

The first of three Preparatory Committee sessions regarding the 2010 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty took place.

25 April 2007

EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and Ali Larijani held talks in Ankara.

10 April 2007

Iran announced that it had completed the nuclear fuel cycle and that it had plans to install 50,000 centrifuges.

22 February 2007

Director-General of the IAEA Mohammed ElBaradei confirmed that Iran had not complied with resolution 1737.

23 January 2007

The sanctions committee established by resolution 1737 of 23 December held its first meeting.

22 January 2007

EU foreign ministers announced a ban on trade with Iran of the goods on the Nuclear Supplier Group and Missile Technology Control Regime lists.

5 December 2006

The political directors of the EU3+3 met in Paris to discuss major amendments to a draft resolution presented by Russia.

3 November 2006

Russia proposed major amendments removing many of the sanctions' measures.

24 October 2006

The EU3+3 presented a draft resolution.

6 October 2006

The EU3+3 met in London.

9 September 2006

Contacts between Javier Solana and Ali Larijani resumed.

22 August 2006

Iran presented a 21-page response to the P5 plus Germany package of incentives.

19 July 2006

Consultations between the P5 plus Germany on a draft resolution resume.

20 July 2006

Iran announced it would formally respond to the offer on 22 August 2006.

12 July 2006

The P5 plus Germany said Iran had failed to take steps needed for negotiations, leaving no choice but a return to the Council.

11 July 2006

A meeting between Ali Larijani, Javier Solana and the foreign ministers of the P5 plus Germany in Brussels ended with no result.

22 June 2006

Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motaki who informed Annan that Iran was considering the package very seriously and was willing to negotiate if there are no pre-conditions.

6 June 2006

Javier Solana took the incentives package to Tehran

1 June 2006

The P5 plus Germany offered Iran a package of incentives, including suspension of Council action, as a basis for further discussion.

18 May 2006

The Secretary of the League of Arab States wrote to the Security Council expressing "complete rejection" of nuclear weapons in the region and reactivating an earlier Arab proposal for a regional nuclear weapon free zone.

2 May 2006

The Political Directors of the P5 plus Germany met in Paris.

25 April 2006

Ali Larijani said Iran would cut ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency if the Council imposed sanctions on Iran.

18 to 20 April 2006

Senior diplomats from the P5 plus Germany met in Moscow. Results of the talks are inconclusive.

13 April 2006

Mohammed ElBaradei failed to secure agreement from the Iranian government on compliance with the 29 March Council statement during a trip to Iran.

11 April 2006

Iran announced that it had managed to enrich uranium to 3.5 percent, the level needed to make reactor fuel and asserted that it was now pursuing a more sophisticated and speedy method of enrichment.

30 March 2006

Iran rejected the 29 March Council statement, reaffirmed its right to enrichment technology for civilian purposes, confirmed its intention not to suspend any nuclear activities, and hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and even transferring nuclear technology to other countries.

29 March 2006

The Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement calling on Iran to halt its nuclear work.

20 March 2006

President Bush said he hoped to solve the issue diplomatically but added that the US will use military power to protect Israel.

February 2006

Iran resumed enrichment following an IAEA resolution reporting Iran to the Security Council, and threatened to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

31 January 2006

The EU+3, China, Russia and the US met in London and agreed that the IAEA should report Iran to the Council.

10 January 2006

After a failed attempt to have the Iranian delegation meet the UN inspectors in Vienna, Iran broke the IAEA seals at its Natanz nuclear research facility and declared its intention to resume the enrichment process.

December 2005

Iran refused to resume negotiations with the EU+3. Ahmadinejad again rejected the Russian proposal, and then agreed to consider it.

11 November 2005

With the agreement of the EU and the US, Russia proposed that Iran enrich uranium in Russia. The plan was rejected by Iran.

24 September 2005

An IAEA resolution found Iran in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and said that Iran's nuclear activities "have given rise to questions that are within the competence of the Security Council." The resolution invited the IAEA Director General to report again and noted that the Board would address this report at a later stage for a possible notification of the Council.

August 2005

After rejecting the EU+3 cooperation proposal, Tehran declared it had resumed uranium conversion at its Isfahan plant and insisted the programme was for peaceful purposes.

June 2005

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won presidential elections, defeating former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

13 December 2004

Negotiations between Iran and the EU+3 started.

15 November 2004

Under the Paris Accord, Iran agreed to suspend most of its uranium enrichment in return for a European undertaking to cooperate on the nuclear, commercial and political levels.

June 2004

The International Atomic Energy Agency rebuked Iran for failing to fully cooperate with an inquiry into its nuclear activities and confirmed the discovery of highly enriched uranium.

18 December 2003

Iran signed the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

10 November 2003

The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that there was no evidence of a weapons programme in Iran.

21 October 2003

Iran agreed to fully cooperate with the IAEA by promising to suspend its uranium enrichment program and allow tougher UN inspections of its nuclear facilities through the signature of the Additional Protocol.

12 September 2003

The IAEA gave Tehran a 31 October 2003 deadline to prove it was not pursuing an atomic weapons programme.

26 August 2003

An IAEA report showed the presence of enriched uranium in Iran at rates superior to what is necessary for civilian use.

13 June 2003

The IAEA asked Iran to implement the Additional Protocol of the Nom-Proliferation Treaty.

21 February 2003

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections began.

9 February 2003

Iranian President Mohammed Khatami announced that Iran would be producing its own atomic fuel for future civilian nuclear plants.

December 2002

Satellite pictures revealed two nuclear sites in Arak and in Natanz. Iran accepted an International Atomic Energy Agency inspection.