Nov. 27, 2007

Iran's Supreme Court orders a new investigation into the 2003 death of Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi. However, Kazemi's family lawyer said the family is "very skeptical" of the probe, based on previous experiences with the Iranian justice system.

• Family skeptical of Iranian probe into Canadian photojournalist's death

Sept. 25, 2007

Iran's president tells the United Nations assembly his country has a right to nuclear technology and declares the controversy surrounding the program officially closed.

"All our nuclear activities have been completely peaceful and transparent," says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad blasts the United States as a bullying and arrogant power that disobeys the international rule of law.

• Nuclear issue officially over, Iran's president tells UN

Sept. 24, 2007

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes a controversial appearance at Columbia University in New York amid tough questions over his hardline leadership and his country's human rights record.

University president Lee Bollinger challenges him to account for his statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the destruction of Israel. In response, Ahmadinejad calls Bollinger's comments an "insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here."

• Ahmadinejad called 'cruel and petty dictator' in NYC school visit

Sept. 23, 2007

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells CBS's current affairs program 60 Minutes his country is not headed for war with the United States.

Ahmadinejad travels to New York to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly two days later.

• Iranian president denies his country headed for war with U.S.

May 27, 2007

In its first public talks with the U.S. in nearly 30 years, Iran proposes a three-party group to address violence in Iraq, according to a U.S. diplomat who describes the meeting as "positive."

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, says the United States would consider the plan for an Iraqi-American-Iranian body, to be called the "trilateral security mechanism."

• U.S., Iran had 'positive' discussion on Iraq in rare talks

May 24, 2007

U.S. President George W. Bush says the U.S. will work with allies to strengthen sanctions against Iran following the UN nuclear watchdog's report that says Tehran is expanding its uranium enrichment program.

• Bush vows to pursue more Iran sanctions

May 23, 2007

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency accuses Iran of defying a UN Security Council deadline to suspend its nuclear program and blocking the agency's efforts to monitor its enrichment activities.

Iran still ignoring warnings from UN, nuclear agency says

February 4, 2007

Iran's nuclear chief, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, says his country rejects UN Security Council resolution 1737, passed late last year, that calls for Tehran to face sanctions if doesn't suspend uranium enrichment. Aghazadeh, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, says the resolution had certain unspecified "legal difficulties."

December 23, 2006

The United Nations Security Council passes resolution 1737, imposing sanctions on Iran for its failure to comply with earlier motions calling for the suspension of uranium enrichment. The sanctions cover "blocking the import or export of sensitive nuclear material and equipment and freezing the financial assets of persons or entities supporting its proliferation of sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems."

November 14, 2006

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, tells the UN that Iran has not suspended uranium enrichment or research, which was called for in Security Council resolution 1696, passed on July 31.

August 31st, 2006

Deadline passes for Iran to accept the deal offered by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in June. The deadline was imposed by the UN Security Council in resolution 1696.

July 31, 2006

The UN Security Council gives Iran one month to stop uranium enrichment and accept an offer of help from Europe and Russia with its nuclear program. Otherwise, resolution 1696 says, the Islamic republic will face sanctions. Iran refuses to say whether it accepts or rejects the deal.

June 6, 2006

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani appears to welcome an offer from the European Union, Russia and China to provide nuclear technology and fuel for its reactors, in exchange for Iran suspending uranium enrichment. However, Larijani says, there are certain "ambiguities" about the offer which must be cleared up. EU representative Javier Solana warns that the deal is the best that will be offered to Iran.

May 31, 2006

In a major policy shift, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offers to join direct talks with Iran if Tehran stops enriching uranium. The offer is thought to be part of European Union-led diplomatic efforts to convince Iran to suspend its nuclear development program and accept outside help and intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

May 8, 2006

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sends a letter via the Swiss Embassy to U.S. President George W. Bush. An Iranian government spokesperson says the letter proposes new ways out of the ongoing crisis over his country's nuclear programs. It is the first letter from an Iranian leader to a U.S. president in 27 years.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tells the Associated Press the 18-page letter covers history, philosophy and religion, but "isn't addressing the issues that we're dealing with in a concrete way."

May 3, 2006

Iran's nuclear chief, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, says the country has produced uranium of 4.8 per cent purity. A nuclear reactor needs fuel enriched to five per cent. A nuclear warhead needs uranium enriched to 90 per cent.

April 29, 2006

Mohammed Saeedi, Iran's deputy nuclear chief, says the government is willing to allow the resumption of announced United Nations inspections of its nuclear facilities if its case is dropped by the UN Security Council. The U.S. would later reject the offer.

April 28, 2006

Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, reports that Iran has enriched uranium and is therefore in defiance of the United Nations Security Council.

April 14, 2006

During a conference in support of Palestinians, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls Israel a "rotten, dried tree" that is "heading toward annihilation."

April 13, 2006

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay says Canada is prepared to lay sanctions against Iran, but he wants to give the country more time to allay fears over its uranium enrichment program.

April 12, 2006

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says the United Nations Security Council should take "strong steps" in response to the revelation that Iran is enriching uranium.

April 11, 2006

Iran announces that it has successfully enriched uranium and plans a large-scale program to enrich more. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says it is for energy, not for weapons.

April 8, 2006

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrive in Iran to inspect uranium enrichment facilities.

March 29, 2006

The United Nations demands Iran suspend uranium enrichment. It is the first time the UN has directly told Tehran to stop and ordered it to specify that it is not planning to develop nuclear weapons. The calls come after the UN Security Council debated for three weeks over the wording of the statement.

March 16, 2006

The U.S. releases a new National Security Strategy paper which states that "the U.S. may face no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran." The document says if diplomatic efforts fail to curtail Iran's nuclear program, confrontation may be unavoidable.

March 12, 2006

Iran rejects proposal to move its uranium enrichment program to Russia – a compromise designed to ensure that nuclear fuel could not be diverted for nuclear weapons. Iran's foreign minister said his country was instead considering large-scale uranium enrichment that would take place entirely in Iran.

March 5, 2006

Iran threatens to resume industrial-scale nuclear fuel production if it is referred to the UN Security Council by the world nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Feb. 14, 2006

Iran confirms it has resumed small-scale uranium enrichment at one of its main nuclear facilities, defying international pressure.

Dec. 14, 2005

President Ahmadinejad provokes more international controversy by calling the Holocaust a "myth." Israel calls Iran a "rogue regime."

Oct 26, 2005

At a conference in Tehran called "The World without Zionism," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls Israel a "disgraceful blot" that should be "wiped off the map." While many Western governments, including those of the U.S., Canada and Britain, were quick to denounce Ahmadinejad's words, most Arab leaders were silent.

Ahmadinejad would later stand by his comments, calling the criticism from the West "invalid."

June 24, 2005

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the mayor of Tehran, wins the Iranian presidential election in a runoff against Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Feb. 16, 2005

Iran and Syria announce they will form a "common front" against challenges and threats from overseas. The move comes days after a suicide bomb attack in Lebanon kills the country's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri. An explosion occurs near a nuclear power plant in southern Iran. Security officials say the explosion, near Deylam, was caused by construction on a new dam project.

Feb. 14, 2005

Iran announces it will not stop work on a heavy-water plant near Arak, which could be used to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs.

Nov. 23, 2004

Canada names a new ambassador to Iran, Gordon Venner, four months after pulling Ambassador Philip MacKinnon after Iran refused to allow foreign observers into the trial dealing with the death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi.

Nov. 22, 2004

Iran announces it is suspending its program to enrich uranium, just in time to meet a deadline agreed to with European nations and avoid possible sanctions. Iran would later say the suspension of the program was only temporary.

Oct. 20, 2004

Iran says it has test-fired a new version of its Shahab-3 missile with a greater range, up to 2,000 kilometres, capable of reaching U.S. based in the Persian Gulf and Israel.

June 25, 2004

At least 70 people are killed when a tanker truck full of gasoline goes out of control and crashes into six parked buses on the main road between Bam and Zahedan in southern Iran. More than 80 others are injured.

June 21, 2004

Iran seizes three British navy patrol boats it says entered its territorial waters and arrests eight British sailors. Iran threatens to prosecute the servicemen for illegally entering the Shatt al-Arab waterway. The sailors would be released three days later.

May 28, 2004

At least 45 people are killed and about 400 injured after an earthquake strikes central and northern Iran. The 6.2-magnitude quake causes serious damage in the city of Sari and in about 80 villages in the Alborz mountain range.

April 15, 2004

Khalil Naimi, the first secretary of the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, is killed after gunmen open fire on his car near the embassy.

April 6, 2004

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, says Iran has stopped enriching uranium and has agreed to a timetable for nuclear inspections.

March 12, 2004

Iran freezes all United Nations nuclear inspections for six weeks. Iran representative to the UN nuclear agency says the postponement is due to the celebration of the Iranian New Year.

Feb. 23, 2004

Hardline conservatives gain control of the legislature from reformers after a controversial election. The Islamic Guardian Council disqualified more than 2,400 reformist candidates from running, prompting opposition parties to call for a boycott of the election.

Feb. 18, 2004

About 340 people are killed when a runaway 51-car train loaded with explosives and chemicals derails and explodes in northeastern Iran. Officials would blame brake failure and negligence for the crash.

Feb. 11, 2004

Iranians take to the streets of Tehran to mark the 25th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrators chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."

Feb. 1, 2004

More than a third of Iran's members of parliament submit letters of resignation after the Islamic Guardian Council, an unelected conservative body, bars 2,400 reformists from running in the election on Feb. 20.

Jan. 21, 2004

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, denies that his country has ever tried to buy nuclear weapons.

Dec. 26, 2003

An earthquake hits the southeastern city of Ban, destroying almost 70 per cent of the city. At least 30,000 are killed. Bulldozers are used to dig mass graves for the dead. Some survivors of the quake would be found days later in the rubble. The U.S. would lift restrictions on aid to Iran to help quake victims. The Canadian government would contribute $1.5 million to disaster relief and individual Canadians would give $2 million to a Red Cross fund for quake victims in Iran.

Dec. 19, 2003

Iran signs an agreement to allow UN nuclear inspectors into its nuclear plants and research facilities.

Nov. 26, 2003

The UN nuclear watchdog agency approves a censure against Iran for its 18-year coverup of a nuclear program. The resolution says the IAEA "strongly deplores" Iran's hidden programs of uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing.

Nov. 10, 2003

The IAEA reports there is "no evidence" Iran is making nuclear weapons, but also says the agency cannot determine whether Iran's nuclear programs are peaceful.

Oct. 13, 2003

IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei makes a surprise visit to Iran to try to persuade its government to meet its Oct. 31 deadline to stop nuclear activities.

Oct. 10, 2003

Iranian writer and human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi wins the Nobel Peace Prize. More on Shirin Ebadi http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/nobel/ebadi.html

Oct. 2, 2003

U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin issue warning to South Korea and Iran to stop suspected nuclear weapon programs.

Sept. 12, 2003

UN nuclear regulators give Iran until Oct. 31 to reveal its nuclear capabilities. Iranian officials walk out of the meeting.

Aug. 26, 2003

A senior UN diplomat announces that inspectors have found trace amounts of enriched, weapons-grade uranium in an Iranian nuclear facility. Iranian officials say the equipment tested was contaminated with the uranium when they bought it.

July 25, 2003

Canada recalls its ambassador from Iran over the country's handling of the death of Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi.

• More on Zahra Kazemi

July 21, 2003

U.S. President Bush warns Iran and Syria that support of terrorist organizations is "unacceptable." "Supporting and harbouring terrorists undermines prospects for peace in the Middle East," he says.

June 14, 2003

Militants who support Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, beat up student protesters calling for Khamenei's resignation. Iranian police arrest some of the militants and the U.S. condemns the attacks.

May 1, 2003

The U.S. and U.K. announce that major hostilities in Iraq are over.

March 20, 2003

U.S. air strikes on Baghdad begin.

March 4, 2003

Iran suggests a UN-sponsored election in Iraq as a way of averting war with the U.S.

Dec. 27, 2002

Iran puts a moratorium on stoning as a means of capital punishment for men and women convicted of adultery.

Dec. 13, 2002

Iran cancels a UN inspection of two of its nuclear sites, saying the Iranians need more time to prepare.

Sept. 11, 2002

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud says Iran handed over 16 suspected al-Qaeda fighters to Saudi Arabia in June 2002.

June 22, 2002

A magnitude-6.0 earthquake shakes northwestern Iran, killing at least 500 people and injuring about 1,600 more.

Jan. 29, 2002

In his first state of the union address, U.S. President George W. Bush groups Iran, Iraq and North Korea into an "axis of evil," states that support terrorism and threaten global peace.

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