-
Shah Exiled
US-backed Shah of Iran forced to leave Iran. -
Ayatollah Khomeini Returns
Islamic religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini returns. -
Hostages at U.S. Embassy
Militants take hostages at US embassy. -
Shah Dies
Shah dies of cancer in Egypt, hostage crisis continues. -
Iraq invades Iran
Iraq invades, sparking a war with Iran which lasts the rest of the decade. -
Hostages Freed
1981 20 January - Last 52 US hostages freed in January after intense diplomatic activity. Their release comes a few hours after US President Jimmy Carter leaves office. They had been held for 444 days. -
Airbus Shot Down
US cruiser mistakenly shoots down Iranian Airbus. -
Ayatoklah Khomeini dies
Ayatollah Khomeini dies. Supreme leader appointed the following day. -
Rafsanjani sworn in
Hashemi Rafsanjani sworn in as president. -
Gulf War
Iran remains neutral in US-led intervention in Kuwait. -
Clinton Takes Office
Bill Clinton is sworn in. -
Oil and trade sanctions
President Clinton imposes oil and trade sanctions on Iran. -
More Sanctions
Pres. Clinton imnposes penalties on companies that invests $40m in Iran and Libya. -
Khatami elected
Muhammad Khatami elected president of Iran. -
Reformists win victory
Iranian reformists win landslide victory in general election. -
CIA Reports on Iran
Report by Central Intelligence Agency accuses Iran of programs to acquire nuclear weapons. -
"Axis of Evil"
George W Bush, describes Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil", warning of nuclear proliferation. -
Military Option
White House refuses to rule out the "military option" in dealing with Iran after Iran "failed to report...materials and activities". -
UN Resolution
A UN resolution condemns Iran for keeping some of its nuclear activities secret. -
Never give up on Nuclear Technology
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami says his country will never give up nuclear technology. -
No Greater Threat
US faces "no greater challenge" than Iran's nuclear program. -
Possible Strike/Negotiations
A report in the suggests the US is planning a strike against underground nuclear sites - a claim Washington denies. Iran announces it has successfully enriched uranium.Ahmadinejad insists the pursuit of peaceful nuclear weapons is beneficial. -
Congratulations to Obama
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offers congratulations to Barack Obama after his election as US president. Report says US is considering presence in the Tehran.
