The complete timeline of how the Iran deal was reached
A timeline of major events over that timespan:
- August 2002 – Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal a covert nuclear site at the eastern city of Natanz. An inspection by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency reveals it was used to enrich uranium, a process for producing fuel or nuclear warheads.
- June 2003 – Britain, France and Germany engage Iran in nuclear negotiations. Washington refuses to join.
- October 2003 – Iran suspends uranium enrichment.
- February 2006 – Iran announces it will restart uranium enrichment following the election of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a critical Iran report by the IAEA to the U.N. Security Council, and after Britain, France and Germany walk out of stalled negotiations.
- June 2006 – The United States, Russia and China join Britain, France and Germany to form the P5+1 group of nations trying to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear program. Washington initially stays away from the negotiating table.