The United States and Iran have signed an interim deal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, questions remain over how further negotiations will go over the next 60 days on Iran’s nuclear program. Here’s a timeline of the tensions over Iran’s atomic program:Early days1967 — Iran takes possession of the Tehran Research Reactor supplied by America under the “Atoms for Peace” program.1979 — U.S. ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill, flees Iran as popular protests against him surge. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran and the Islamic Revolution sweeps him to power. Students seize the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, beginning the 444-day hostage crisis. Iran’s nuclear program goes fallow under international pressure.August 2002 — Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal Iran’s secret Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.
June 2003 — Britain, France and Germany engage Iran in nuclear negotiations. October 2003 — Iran suspends uranium enrichment under international pressure.February 2006 — Iran announces it will restart uranium enrichment following the election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Britain, France and Germany walk out of stalled negotiations.
