For the last fifty years, Iran and the US
have been fighting over the issue of Iran’s
nuclear capability.
Tension over sanctions and broken agreements
have fueled this diplomatic deadlock.
Here’s a timeline to explain the history
of this back and forth.
July 01, 1968
Iran signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
with 50 other countries, promising to never
develop nuclear weapons.
1987-1989
Despite this, Iran obtains secret nuclear
technology from Pakistan’s head nuclear
weapons engineer sometime between 1987 and
1989
July 1996
Years later, Iran is caught trying to build
a nuclear weapon.
In response, US President Bill Clinton imposes
the first of many sanctions against Iran.
.
Feb 2000
In an attempt to slow Iran’s nuclear progress,
the CIA secretly gives them flawed nuclear
blueprints.
The plan backfires when Iran discovers the
flaws and uses the plans to their advantage.
October 22, 2003
Amidst fears of being invaded, Iran allows
international inspections of some nuclear
sites.
November 7, 2004
In November 2004, Iran’s nuclear negotiator,
Hassan Rouhani, signs the Paris Agreement
to stop enriching uranium temporarily.
August 03, 2005
Less than a year later, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
is elected president.
He restarts Iran's nuclear program.
Summer 2010
In the summer of 2010, a joint effort between
the US and Israel creates a computer virus
that takes down nearly a fifth of Iran's nuclear
technologies.
April 9, 2013
Despite sanctions tanking the Iranian currency,
Ahmadinejad says they will expand uranium
production, and nuclear weapon proliferation.
June 15, 2013
On June 15th, 2013, Iran elects their US-friendly
nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rouhani, as president.
He slows down efforts at enriching uranium.
September 27, 2013
Three months later, in the first direct contact
between US and Iran since 1979, Obama speaks
personally with President Rouhani.
January 2014
In exchange for 7 billion in sanctions relief,
Iran agrees to temporarily halt their nuclear
program in the Geneva Accord.
March 3rd, 2015
After over a year of negotiation extensions,
Iran rejects US plan to freeze all nuclear
activity for ten years.
Although Iran has repeatedly said they have
no interest in pursuing a nuclear weapon,
the US, Israel, and allied European countries
don’t seem to be willing to trust them.
Negotiations continue, but based on this history,
it’s likely that Iran continues to pursue
its nuclear program.
What do you think?
Is there more to this story?
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If you want a better look at how powerful
Iran is overall, take a look at 
our full video here.
