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TEHRAN, Jan 13 (AFP) Jan 13, 2006 Iran on Friday threatened to stop cooperating with the UN atomic watchdog if its nuclear programme is referred to the Security Council, as the United States and European Union have threatened following Tehran's resumption of sensitive nuclear activities. The following is a timeline of the main developments in the standoff:
Dec 12-13: Satellite photographs broadcast by US television stations reveal the existence of nuclear sites at Arak, southwest of Tehran, and Natanz in the centre of the country, which the US media claims could have a military use. Iran agrees to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection.
Feb 9: President Mohammad Khatami says uranium deposits have been discovered in Iran and Tehran is building two factories to convert the ore into nuclear power station fuel. Aug 26: A confidential UN report reveals Iran has developed two kinds of enriched uranium not needed for peaceful energy production. Nov 10: An internal IAEA report states: "At the moment, there is no proof that Iran is creating nuclear weapons," a conclusion the United States disputes. Dec 18: Iran signs an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allowing unannounced inspections of nuclear sites.
June 1: The IAEA claims to have found new traces of enriched uranium that exceed the levels necessary for civilian energy production. July 31: Iran admits to having resumed production of parts for centrifuges used for enriching uranium, but insists it has not resumed enrichment. Sept 21: Iran says it has resumed large-scale conversion of uranium ore. Nov 14: Iran accepts complete suspension of uranium enrichment activities, including the precursor process of conversion, while further talks are held. Nov 22: Suspension of enrichment takes effect. Dec 13: Talks open between Iran and EU.
Feb 27: Iran and Russia sign a nuclear fuel accord that paves the way for the start-up of the Bushehr nuclear plant. Russia will fuel the reactor on condition that Iran sends back spent fuel.
Aug 5: Tehran rejects an EU offer of a broad package of incentives aimed at ending the standoff. Aug 8: Iran resumes uranium conversion work at Isfahan and later removes IAEA seals, as talks with the EU are suspended. Aug 11: IAEA board adopts resolution demanding Iran halt nuclear fuel work but non-aligned nations express reservations. Aug 12: US President George W. Bush refuses to rule out the use of force against Iran in an interview with Israeli television.
Sept 2: IAEA releases a critical report saying Iran has continued sensitive nuclear fuel work and calls for full transparency. Sept 20: Iran threatens to resume enrichment, prevent UN inspections of its nuclear sites and abandon the NPT if it is referred to the Security Council. Sept 24: The IAEA passes a resolution that reserves the right to send Iran's case to the UN Security Council but amid deep divisions Russia and China abstain.
Nov 11: Russia presents a plan, endorsed by the European Union and agreed by the United States, that would allow Iran to continue uranium enrichment but on Russian soil.
Jan 1: Larijani minimises the significance of the Russian nuclear proposal, describing it as an idea which has serious problems. Jan 3: Iran announces the resumption of nuclear research activities that were suspended for two years, provoking a call from the IAEA to keep the operations suspended. Jan 7: Talks between Russia and Iran on the Moscow proposal end without a result with the parties promising to resume talks in February. Jan 10: Iran removes seals placed by the UN nuclear watchdog on uranium-enrichment related equipment at the controversial Natanz plant, provoking a wave of international condemnation. Jan 12: Britain, France and Germany, who make up the EU-3, say the time has come for the UN Security Council to become involved and call for an emergency IAEA meeting next week. Jan 13: Iran threatens to halt cooperation with the IAEA if it is referred to the Security Council, with US President George W. Bush describing such a step as "logical". All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.
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