1951-1953

In 1951, the Iranian parliament votes in favour of nationalising the petroleum industry, previously controlled by the British empire. British scientists are thrown out of the country. A month after the vote, nationalist leader Mohamed Mossadegh is democratically elected to become prime minister. In 1953, the CIA launches Operation Ajax to support the military coup that would topple Mossadegh’s government.
 

During the Cold War, Iran sides with the US against Russia. Tehran joins Pakistan and the UK in signing the Baghdad Pact - an agreement between Washington, Turkey and Iraq to try to contain Soviet influence.
 

Iran and the US sign a civil cooperation agreement on the peaceful use of the atomic bomb. In the name of research, the US gives Iran a nuclear reactor.

1974

Under the leadership of the Shah, Iran builds a nuclear reactor in the Bushehr region.

The Shah falls to the Islamist regime as Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile and seizes power. Khomeini suspends Iran’s nuclear programme. In November, Islamist students demand that the US extradite the Shah – who was being treated for cancer at the time in the country – and take control of the American embassy in Tehran. Around 60 people are taken hostage, only to be released 400 days later in 1981. This marks the start of a disastrous relationship between Iran and the US.

US President Jimmy Carter breaks off all diplomatic relations with Iran – a situation that endures to this day.

1986

An "Iran-gate" scandal breaks out. While Washington is officially supporting Iraq's war rampage against Iran, it allegedly sends a messenger to Tehran to sell weapon supplies. In exchange for these arms, the US obtains a promise from Iranians to release a number of American hostages detained, in Lebanon, by a pro-Iranian militant group.

 
1993

The World Trade Centre in New York is the target of a terrorist attack in the form of a car bomb. The blast kills 6 and wounds up to 1,000 people. Washington blames Tehran.

 
1995
 

Tempers start to flair: The US imposes economic sanctions on Iran.

After the September 11 attacks, and the start of an American military intervention in Afghanistan, President George W. Bush publicly considers Iran to be part of an "axis of evil" even though Iran condemned the attacks.

2005

Although the US is already involved in the Iraq War, George W. Bush nonetheless hints at possible plans for military intervention in Iran to prevent nuclear proliferation in the country.The ultra right-winger Mahmoud Ahmadinejad becomes president of the Islamic Republic. He stops all diplomatic relations with the US.

After turning down an EU proposal to start up a civil nuclear cooperation pact, the new Iranian president decides once more to take up uranium extraction.

Ahmadinejad offers to hold a debate with Americans at the UN General Assembly. George W. Bush refuses.

2009

The new US President Barack Obama announces his wish to start a new dialogue with Iran in order to resolve the ongoing dispute. Iran asks Ankara to act as a mediator in the talks with the US, after 30 years of conflict with Turkey, according to an interview with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the UK daily The Guardian, on February 25.