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A chronology of key events: 224-651 AD - Sasanian dynasty rules Persia; Zoroastrianism is dominant religion. 636 - Arab invasion brings end of Sasanian dynasty and start of Islamic rule. 9th century - Emergence of modern Persian language (or Farsi), written using a form of Arabic script.
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Azadi tower, Tehran; Landmark in the densely-populated capital
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9-13th century - Decline of Islamic Caliphate; rise of Seljuk Turk dynasties. 1220 - Invasion by Mongol forces of Genghis Khan. 1501 - Shah Ismail I becomes first ruler of Islamic Safavid dynasty; Shi'i Islam declared state religion. 1639 - Treaty of Qasr-e Shirin (or Treaty of Zuhab) ends about 150 years of war against Ottoman Empire. 1736 - Nadir Shah becomes monarch; end of Safavid dynasty. 1828 - Iran cedes control of Caucasus to Russia after second Russo-Persian war. 1890 - "Tobacco Riots": ruler Naser al-Din Shah forced to withdraw trade concessions granted to Britain after mass protests. 1907 - Introduction of constitution which limits the absolutist powers of rulers. 1914-1918 - Iran declares neutrality but is scene of heavy fighting during World War I. 1921 February - Military commander Reza Khan seizes power. 1923 - Reza Khan becomes prime minister. 1925 December - Parliament votes to make Reza Khan ruler. 1926 April - Reza Khan crowned Reza Shah Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza, the Shah's eldest son, is proclaimed Crown Prince. 1935 - Formerly known as Persia, Iran is adopted as the country's official name. Shah installed 1941 - The Shah's pro-Axis allegiance in World War II leads to the Anglo-Russian occupation of Iran and the deposition of the Shah in favour of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
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The Shah was forced into exile in 1979 and died in 1980
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1950 - Ali Razmara becomes prime minister and is assassinated less than nine months later. He is succeeded by the nationalist, Mohammad Mossadeq. 1951 April - Parliament votes to nationalise the oil industry, which is dominated by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Britain imposes an embargo and a blockade, halting oil exports and hitting the economy. A power struggle between the Shah and Mossadeq ensues and the Shah flees the country in August 1953. 1953 August - Mossadeq is overthrown in a coup engineered by the British and American intelligence services. General Fazlollah Zahedi is proclaimed as prime minister and the Shah returns. Campaign to modernise 1963 January - The Shah embarks on a campaign to modernise and westernise the country. He launches the 'White Revolution', a programme of land reform and social and economic modernisation. During the late 1960's the Shah became increasingly dependent on the secret police (SAVAK) in controlling those opposition movements critical of his reforms. 1978 September - The Shah's policies alienate the clergy and his authoritarian rule leads to riots, strikes and mass demonstrations. Martial law is imposed. Shah exiled, Khomeini returns 1979 January - As the political situation deteriorates, the Shah and his family are forced into exile. 1979 1 February - The Islamic fundamentalist, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, returns to Iran following 14 years of exile in Iraq and France for opposing the regime.
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Ayatollah Khomeini led the 1979 Islamic Revolution
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1979 1 April - The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed following a referendum. 1979 November - Islamic militants take 52 Americans hostage inside the US embassy in Tehran. They demand the extradition of the Shah, in the US at the time for medical treatment, to face trial in Iran. 1980 January - Abolhasan Bani-Sadr is elected the first President of the Islamic Republic. His government begins work on a major nationalization programme. 1980 July - The exiled Shah dies of cancer in Egypt. Iran-Iraq war 1980 22 September - Start of Iran-Iraq war which lasts for eight years. 1981 January - The American hostages are released ending 444 days in captivity. 1981 June - Bani-Sadr is dismissed, he later flees to France. 1985 - After the US and Soviet Union halted arms supplies, the US attempted to win the release of hostages in Lebanon by offering secret arms deals, this would later become known as the Iran-Contra affair. 1988 July - 290 passengers and the crew of an Iran Air Airbus are mistakenly shot down by the USS Vincennes. Ceasefire 1988 July - Iran accepts a ceasefire agreement with Iraq following negotiations in Geneva under the aegis of the UN.
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Hardliners called for author Salman Rushdie's death
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1989 February - Ayatollah Khomeini issues a religious edict (fatwa) ordering Muslims to kill British author, Salman Rushdie, for his novel, 'The Satanic Verses', considered blasphemous to Islam. 1989 3 June - Ayatollah Khomeini dies. On 4 June, President Khamene'i is appointed as new supreme leader. 1989 August - Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani is sworn in as the new president. 1989 November - The US releases 567 million dollars of frozen Iranian assets. Major earthquake kills thousands 1990 June - A major earthquake strikes Iran, killing approximately 40,000 people. 1990 - Iran remains neutral following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. 1990 September - Iran and Iraq resume diplomatic ties. US imposes sanctions
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Reformist Khatami: Isolated by conservative resurgence
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1995 - US imposes oil and trade sanctions over Iran's alleged sponsorship of "terrorism", seeking to acquire nuclear arms and hostility to the Middle East process. Iran denies the charges. 1997 May - Mohammad Khatami wins the presidential election with 70% of the vote, beating the conservative ruling elite. 1998 September - Iran deploys thousands of troops on its border with Afghanistan after the Taleban admits killing eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist in Mazar-e Sharif. Student protests 1999 July - Pro-democracy students at Tehran University demonstrate following the closure of the reformist newspaper 'Salam'. Clashes with security forces lead to six days of rioting and the arrest of more than 1,000 students. 2000 February - Majlis elections. Liberals and supporters of Khatami wrest control of parliament from conservatives for the first time. 2000 April - The judiciary, following the adoption of a new press law, bans the publication of 16 reformist newspapers. 2000 May - Inauguration of the Sixth parliament. Khatami's second term 2001 June - President Khatami re-elected.
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Reformists have been frustrated at the slow pace of change
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2002 January - US President George Bush describes Iraq, Iran and North Korea as an "axis of evil", warning of the proliferation of long-range missiles being developed in these countries. The speech causes outrage in Iran and is condemned by reformists and conservatives alike. 2002 September - Russian technicians begin construction of Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr despite strong objections from US. 2003 June - Thousands attend student-led protests in Tehran against clerical establishment. 2003 September - UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, gives Tehran weeks to prove it is not pursuing an atomic weapons programme. 2003 October - Shirin Ebadi becomes Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize winner; lawyer and human rights campaigner became Iran's first female judge in 1975 but was forced to resign after 1979 revolution. 2003 November - Iran says it is suspending its uranium enrichment programme and will allow tougher UN inspections of its nuclear facilities. IAEA concludes there is no evidence of a weapons programme. 2003 December - 40,000 people are killed in an earthquake in south-east Iran; the city of Bam is devastated. Conservative resurgence 2004 February - Conservatives regain control of parliament in elections. Thousands of reformist candidates were disqualified by the hardline Council of Guardians before the polls. 2004 June - Iran is rebuked by the IAEA for failing to fully cooperate with an inquiry into its nuclear activities. 2004 November - Iran agrees to suspend most of its uranium enrichment under a deal with the EU. 2005 June - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor, wins a run-off vote in presidential elections, defeating cleric and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Nuclear crisis 2005 August-September - Tehran says it has resumed uranium conversion at its Isfahan plant and insists the programme is for peaceful purposes. IAEA finds Iran in violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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Iran is an ally of Lebanon's Shia Muslim Hezbollah group
Tehran says its support is moral, political
Israel, US accuse Iran of supplying arms
Group emerged in 1980s with financial backing from Iran
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2006 January - Iran breaks IAEA seals at its Natanz nuclear research facility. Bomb attacks in the southern city of Ahvaz - the scene of sporadic unrest in recent months - kill eight people and injure more than 40. 2006 February - IAEA votes to report Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear activities. Iran resumes uranium enrichment at Natanz. 2006 April - Iran says it has succeeded in enriching uranium at its Natanz facility. 2006 31 August - UN Security Council deadline for Iran to halt its work on nuclear fuel passes. IAEA says Tehran has failed to suspend the programme. Holocaust denial 2006 December - Iran hosts a controversial conference on the Holocaust; delegates include Holocaust deniers. UN Security Council votes to impose sanctions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology. Iran condemns the resolution and vows to speed up uranium enrichment work.
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Former President Rafsanjani remains influential
President 1989-1997
Heads Expediency Council and Assembly of Experts
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2007 February - IAEA says Iran failed to meet a deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, exposing Tehran to possible new sanctions. 2007 March - Diplomatic stand-off with Britain after Iran detains 15 British sailors and marines patrolling the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway separating Iran and Iraq. 2007 April - President Ahmadinejad says Iran can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale. IAEA says Iran has begun making nuclear fuel in its underground uranium enrichment plant. It also says that Iran has started up more than 1,300 centrifuge machines. 2007 May - IAEA says Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in three to eight years if it so chooses. 2007 June - Protests erupt after government imposes petrol rationing amid fears of possible UN sanctions. 2007 July - Iran announces plans to stop making cars that only run on petrol and switch to dual-fuel vehicles, which also run on gas. Iran agrees to allow inspectors to visit the Arak nuclear plant following talks with the IAEA. New sanctions 2007 October - US announces sweeping new sanctions against Iran, the toughest since it first imposed sanctions almost 30 years ago. 2007 December - A new US intelligence report plays down the perceived nuclear threat posed by Iran.
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UN is keeping tabs on Iran's nuclear programme
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2008 February - Iran launches a research rocket to inaugurate a newly built space centre. Washington describes the launch as "unfortunate". 2008 March - President Ahmadinejad makes unprecedented official visit to Iraq, where he calls on foreign troops to leave. He also stresses his government's desire to help rebuild Iraq and signs a number of cooperation agreements. Conservatives win over two-thirds of seats in parliamentary elections in which many pro-reform candidates were disbarred from standing. The conservatives include supporters of President Ahmadinejad as well as more pragmatic conservatives who oppose his confrontational foreign policy. UN Security Council tightens economic and trade sanctions on Tehran. 2008 May - IAEA says Iran is still withholding information on its nuclear programme. Iran's new parliament elects former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani as its speaker. Incentives offered 2008 June - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana presents an offer of trade benefits, which Tehran says it will look at, but will reject if it demands suspension of uranium enrichment. 2008 July - Iran test-fires a new version of the Shahab-3, a long-range missile it says is capable of hitting targets in Israel. 2008 August - Informal deadline set by Western officials for Iran to respond to package of incentives in return for halt in nuclear activities passes without reply. Iran says it has successfully launched a test rocket capable of carrying a satellite into space. 2008 September - UN Security Council passes unanimously a new resolution reaffirming demands that Iran stop enriching uranium, but imposes no new sanctions. The text was agreed after Russia said it would not support further sanctions. Congratulations 2008 November - Parliament votes to dismiss the interior minister, Ali Kordan, who admitted that a degree he said he held from Oxford University was fake. The move is a blow to President Ahmadinejad ahead of next year's presidential election.
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DISPUTED ELECTION
The 2009 election sparked reformist protests and a brutal police response
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In an unprecedented move, President Ahmadinejad congratulates US president-elect Barack Obama on his election win. Mr Obama has offered to open unconditional dialogue with Iran about its nuclear programme. 2008 December - Police raid and close the office of a human rights group led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi. Officials say the centre is acting as an illegal political organization. 2009 February - Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he would welcome talks with the US as long as they are based on "mutual respect". 2009 March - Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tells anti-Israel rally that US President Obama is following the "same misguided track" in Middle East as President Bush. 2009 April - An Iranian court finds Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi guilty of spying for the US. She is sentenced to eight years in prison. 2009 May - Iran rejects a US state department report saying it remains the "most active state sponsor of terrorism" in the world. Jailed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi is freed and returns to US. Election protests 2009 June - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is declared to have won a resounding victory in the 12 June presidential election. The rival candidates challenge the result, alleging vote-rigging. Their supporters take to the streets, and at least 30 people are killed and more than 1,000 arrested in the wave of protests that follow. The Iranian authorities claim foreign interference is stoking the unrest, and single out Britain for criticism.
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NEW NUCLEAR SITE
Discovery of the Qom nuclear site further ratcheted up nuclear tensions
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2009 July - President Ahmadinejad dismisses his most senior vice-president, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, under pressure to do so by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 2009 August - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sworn in for second term as president, presents cabinet - the first since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979 to include women. A number of senior opposition figures are accused of conspiring with foreign powers to organise unrest and are put on trial. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says there is no proof that opposition leaders blamed for the post-election unrest were agents of foreign powers. Missile tests 2009 September - Iran admits that it is building a uranium enrichment plant near Qom, but insists it is for peaceful purposes. The country test-fires a series of medium- and longer-range missiles that put Israel and US bases in the Gulf within potential striking range. 2009 October - Five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany offer Iran proposal to enrich its uranium abroad. 2009 November - Iran refuses to accept the international proposal to end the dispute over its nuclear programme. UN nuclear watchdog IAEA passes a resolution condemning Iran for developing a second uranium enrichment site in secret. Iran denounces the move as "political" and announces plans to create 10 more uranium enrichment facilities.
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