Timeline: Iran's Nuclear Program And Sanctions

Iran's nuclear program began in the 70s when Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi established the Iranian Nuclear Agency. Iran was one of the early signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and during this reign Iran pursued a civilian nuclear program in cooperation with France and the United States. Iran was also one of the first signatories of the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

After the Islamic revolution in 1979 and the deterioration of relations with the countries that were set to build Iran's nuclear program, the program shifted focus.

Tehran continued working on its nuclear program through the 80s and 90s. In the beginning in 2003-2004 the program came under close scrutiny after the IAEA discovered that Iran had not disclosed the existence of sensitive uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities. Combined with Iran's missile program, the international community became concerned that Iran is angling towards nuclear missile capability. This led to international negotiations, sanctions and ultimately resulted in the 2015 JCPOA agreement with Iran.

While the agreement was hailed as a success story of diplomacy by the Obama administration and the P5+1 countries (U.S., UK, France, China Russia, and Germany) the deal was not welcomed by Israel and much of the Republican Party.

During his presidential campaign Donald Trump decried the deal as "one sided" and in need of renegotiation. In the first year of his presidency Trump grudgingly certified every three months for the U.S. Congress that Iran was abiding by the deal. But by early 2018 it was clear his patience ran out and in May he completely pulled the U.S. out of nuclear agreement and ordered pre-2015 sanctions to be reimposed. The declared intention of the Trump administration is to stop Iran's "malign activities" and renegotiate a new deal.

This is a timeline of key moments in Iran's nuclear program and reactions from the global community.

Iran

The evolution of Iran's nuclear program

The World Reacts

International reactions from governments and businesses

July, 1 1968

Iran Signs Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

June, 27 1974

Shah Declares Iran And Region A Non-Nuclear Zone 

March, 5 1975

The United States And Iran Sign A 15 Billion Dollar Trade Agreement

Iranian Finance Minister Hushang Ansary says that "Iran is the first major oil producing country to go nuclear in a major way."

October, 31 2003

Iran announces that it has built two nuclear facilities in the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorses a resolution that desires that Iran suspends its uranium enrichment activities and allow environmental sampling to be conducted by October 31st, 2003. Iran complies and strikes a deal with European foreign ministers.

November, 2 2004

2 November 2004 -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says he is optimistic that talks with the European Union would yield a solution to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program that Washington says is a covert bid for atomic arms.

Khatami told reporters in Tehran today that if the EU accepts his country's right to produce nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Iran would be ready to assure the world that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

The EU has given Iran a timetable to freeze all uranium enrichment activities before the end of this month or face being reported to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

November, 15 2004

15 November 2004 -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rohani, says his country has agreed to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment activities as part of a deal with the European Union.

Rohani said in Tehran last night that the suspension would remain in place as long as talks with the EU continue on a final resolution of Iran's nuclear case.

November, 29 2004

(Reuters)The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a U.N. watchdog, on Monday (November 29, 2004) passed a resolution approving Iran's week-old suspension of sensitive nuclear activities as part of a deal between Tehran and the European Union. Crucially, and in line with Iranian demands, the resolution described the freeze as a voluntary, confidence-building measure and not a legally binding commitment.

January, 18 2005

Prague, 18 January 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Amid growing speculation about U.S. intentions, President George W. Bush yesterday restated his position on the issue of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.

"I hope we can solve it diplomatically, but I will never take any option off the table," Bush said.

Bush spoke a few hours after Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said no country should dare to attack Iran, given its military strength and the lack of available information about its military capabilities.

May, 7 2007

IAEA Predicts Iran Could Make Bomb Within Six Years

A spokeswoman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran will have the capacity to build its own nuclear bomb in four to six years.

Melissa Fleming told German Deutschlandfunk radio that this estimate still leaves time for diplomatic efforts to counter the potential threat.

Fleming said it is incomprehensible that Tehran is not opening its uranium-enrichment program to international inspection.

February, 18 2014

First Day Of Talks Held On Long-Term Iranian Nuclear Accord

After sanctions imposed by the UN Security Coucil Iran is forced to the negotiation table. Iran and six world powers have held a first day of negotiations on a long-term agreement aimed at resolving concerns over the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.

Officials said the parties met together in Vienna on February 18 before breaking into bilateral meetings, including one between the Iranian and U.S. delegations.

All sides have sought to lower expectations, citing the likelihood of difficult negotiations.

July, 14 2015

'Historic' Iran Nuclear Deal Sealed After Marathon Talks

Iran and major global powers sealed a landmark deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, taking a giant step to end a confrontation that has poisoned ties, isolated the Islamic nation, and raised the specter of a new war in the Middle East.

 

Read more...

August, 23 2017

What about Iran's Missile Program ?

October, 13 2017

Iran Deal Decertified By President Donald Trump 

President Donald Trump says Iran is not living up to the "spirit" of the nuclear deal that it signed in 2015. He's announcing a new strategy in a speech at the White House.

May, 8 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which he described as “defective at its core.”

May, 8 2018

European Union foreign police chief Federica Mogherini said the EU “is determined to preserve” the deal, which she described as “one of the biggest achievements diplomacy has ever delivered.

May, 8 2018

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from the nuclear deal showed that the United States "never abides by its commitments."

 

May, 8 2018

Reacting To Trump's Decision Exiled Prince Demands Secular Democracy For Iran

Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has reacted to the US pullout from the Iran nuclear deal with a tweet published shortly after the announcement of the withdrawal.

May, 9 2018

Defiant Khamenei Harshly Criticizes US Pullout From JCPOA

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has harshly reacted to the United States’ withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran in strongly worded remarks published on his official website on Wednesday May 9.

Describing President Donald Trump’s pullout statement as “vulgar and commonplace,” Khamenei said, “The US President lied at least 10 times in his statement and threatened both the Iranian nation and the country’s political establishment,” adding, “On behalf of the Iranian nation, I would like to say, you cannot do anything Mr. Trump.”

Read more...

May, 9 2018

Iran, Russia, European Powers Vow To Uphold Nuclear Deal Without U.S.

Iran, Russia, and the European powers that signed a 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran have vowed to keep honoring the deal despite a U.S. decision to pull out, but the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump says it is working to make that difficult.

Read more...

May, 11 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on May 11 that the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal undermines confidence in the global order.

Merkel said the deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions was far from perfect, but stressed it should not be "unilaterally terminated" since it had been approved by the UN Security Council.

 

May, 12 2018

 

Analysts Say U.S. JCPOA Exit Will Heighten Iran’s Economic Woes, Gov’t Infighting

Speaking to Radio Farda on May 10, analyst Mehdi Mahdavi-Azad said, “For the time being, all factions pretend to be in agreement with each other. But hardliners demand radical measures such as leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and starting a war with Israel, while moderates want to wait until the 2020 presidential elections hoping there would be a new U.S. president in office by that time.”

Read more... 

May, 13 2018

Rouhani Orders Talks With JCPOA Partners To 'Guarantee' Iran's Interests

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani has assigned his foreign minister to review the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), through direct talks with his British, Chinese, French, German and Russian counterparts.

 

May, 16 2018
May, 16 2018
May, 18 2018

Rival Camps Point Fingers Over JCPOA Failure

Friday Prayer ceremonies across the country presented a platform for supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to use Washington’s withdrawal from JCPOA as a tool to attack President Hassan Rouhani’s performance in the 2013-2015 nuclear talks.

Read more...

May, 18 2018

German DZ Bank To Quit Iran

BERLIN, May 18 (Reuters)

Germany's No. 2 lender DZ Bank said on Friday it will suspend financial transactions with Iran in July following U.S. President Donald Trump's pullout from the nuclear deal with Tehran.

Read more...

May, 18 2018

Blast from the past! 

May, 19 2018

French gas and power group Engie, Polish gas firm PGNiG and German lender DZ Bank were the latest companies on Friday to say that their business dealings with Iran would be affected by the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions.

Following is a list of companies that could be affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from an international nuclear deal with Iran and impose sanctions on Tehran:

Read more...

May, 21 2018

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington will impose "the strongest sanctions in history [on Iran] once they come into full force" and that the "sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change its course."

 

May, 21 2018

Trump’s Withdrawal From The Iran Nuclear Deal: Winners And Losers

In the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to leave the nuclear deal with Iran, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran is most likely the biggest loser. JCPOA was a huge victory for the fundamentalist regime in Iran, and its unraveling represents a considerable blow to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the status quo of Iran’s military motives in the region.

by Masoud Kazemzadeh 

Read more...

May, 21 2018

Iran Urges EU To Do More To Preserve Nuclear Accord

In a meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete on May 20, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that with the withdrawal of the United States from the deal, the Iranian public expects more from the EU to ensure gains made under the accord are not lost.

Read more...

May, 22 2018

Erdogan Not Supportive Of U.S. Iran Deal Pullout

 

May, 22 2018

Netanyahu Supports Pompeo's Iran Announcement

May, 23 2018

What Is Wrong With JCPOA? Former IAEA Official Explains

A former senior official of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes that the problem with JCPOA is that it does not call for inspection of Iran’s military facilities. It ignores the possibility of a military side in Iran’s nuclear program, and IAEA as the agency that oversees Iran’s commitments has made the tone of its reports on Iran less transparent.

Read more..

May, 24 2018

No U.S-European Compromise Seen On Iran As Khamenei Steps Up Demands

The United States and European countries are "a long way from a compromise" on a new Iran nuclear deal, Germany's top diplomat said as Iran's supreme leader called on European countries to reject U.S. demands for a tougher deal with Iran.

"We are still a long way from a compromise, we take two completely different paths," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Washington after a 75-minute meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on May 23.

Read more...

May, 24 2018

IAEA Says Iran Is In Compliance With Nuclear Deal

Iran has kept its nuclear program within the main restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers despite the U.S. pullout from the agreement, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on May 24.

Read more...

May, 24 2018

U.S. Plays Cat, And Iran The Mouse In 'Tom And Jerry' Comparison 

When it comes to U.S.-Iranian relations, it is as simple as a game of cat and mouse; specifically, the iconic American cartoon characters Tom and Jerry, according to Iran's highest authority.

The message within the Hanna-Barbera classic is recurring: while the tomcat (Tom), with its superior strength and size, might toy with the mouse, it is the clever and plucky mouse (Jerry) that always comes out on top.

Read more...

May, 25 2018

Senior diplomats from Iran and five world powers began meetings in Vienna on May 25 to try to prevent a 2015 nuclear deal from collapsing after Washington's withdrawal from the deal earlier this month. 

"It won't be easy, but we'll try," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said ahead of the talks. 

May, 25 2018

 'Remaining Participants To The JCPOA, Are Serious' Say Iran's Deputy FM In Vienna

May, 26 2018

'Iranians Look At Us As Credible Partners' Says French President

 

May, 29 2018

Israeli Security Advisor To Meet Bolton To Coordinate Against Iran

Israel’s National Security Advisor, Meir Ben-Shabbat left for Washington on Monday to meet John Bolton, his newly appointed American counterpart, Israel’s Channel 10 reported.

The meeting will reportedly take place on Tuesday and will focus on coordinating policy towards Iran. The agenda of the meeting is specifically to discuss the renewal and revamping of a joint memorandum of understanding the two sides had signed in December on how to deal with Iran.

Read more...

May, 30 2018

Iran Threatens To Pull Out of JCPOA If Talks With Europeans Remain Futile

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says although Europeans are “serious” in their attempt to save the nuclear deal with Iran, yet Tehran “doubts their ability” to do so.

Read more...

May, 30 2018

 

U.S. Issues Fresh Iran Sanctions, Targets Evin Prison

The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on six Iranians and three Iran-based entities, including the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, for human rights abuses and other ill-treatment of Iranian citizens.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on May 30 said that along with the prison, sanctions were imposed against the Ansar-e Hezbollah organization and the Hanista Programing Group.

May, 31 2018

Adviser To Iran's Top Leader Pushes Uranium Enrichment

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)

A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is proposing Iran resume its uranium enrichment in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran.

Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted Wednesday by the semi-official Tasnim news agency as saying Iran is "capable to spin centrifuges for enrichment" to higher levels should it choose to do so. Velayati says Iran should also accelerate production of nuclear propulsions and also research on advanced centrifuges.

He claimed this wouldn't violate the nuclear deal which put limits on Iran's atomic program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

In the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the deal, several Iranian officials have indicated Tehran could resume its nuclear program.

June, 1 2018

Shifting His Criticism from Khamenei, Ahmadinejad Targets Rouhani

Iran’s former hardline President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says it was his “agile foreign policy” that led the Obama administration to begin negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.

Read more...

June, 1 2018

Netanyahu: "Iran's dictators plunder the country's wealth"

 

June, 4 2018

French Carmaker PSA To Exit Iran Over US Sanction Risk

"The group has begun to suspend its joint venture activities, in order to comply with US law by August 6, 2018," the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars said in a statement. European officials have vowed to try to shield their companies working in Iran from the reach of punishing US sanctions that are set to come into effect by November.

Read more...

June, 4 2018

IAEA Head Calls For 'Timely' Cooperation From Iran

Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit.

However, as in the agency's last report on Iran in May, Amano said that "timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation... and enhance confidence".

Read more...

June, 6 2018

Iran Gives Notice Of Uranium Enrichment Intentions

Iran says it has informed the UN nuclear agency that it has launched the process of increasing its capacity to enrich uranium in case the 2015 agreement that curbed its nuclear program collapses. 

June, 7 2018

European Refineries Curtailing Oil Purchases From Iran

Even though EU has emphasized its commitment to the deal, the European companies say they cannot risk their economic interests in the U.S. market by engaging in business with Iran.

Read more...

June, 8 2018

Iran Analyst: Khamenei’s Cautious Nuclear Policy Might Signal New ‘Heroic Flexibility’

By Ali Afshari

The crisis in Iran’s economy and the increasing public dissent caused by the recession and financial hardships as well as the fragile balance of power between the government and society have likely led to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei adopting a milder position against the U.S. government’s aggressive moves such as withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran.

Read more...

 

June, 8 2018

EU Cannot Protect Companies Against U.S. Sanctions, Says Economist

“EU officials emphasize firmly that they will support their companies in order to live up to the nuclear agreement with Iran,” Fereydoun Khavand, professor of Economics in Paris, said in an interview with Radio Farda, adding, “but it seems that the managers of European companies do not trust these assurances.”

June, 11 2018

 

US Sanctions Force Nike To Drop Iran Boot Deal Ahead Of World Cup

US sporting goods giant Nike confirmed Monday it had stopped supplying Iran's football team with boots ahead of the World Cup due to sanctions.

A statement from Nike said the company was forbidden from supplying kit to the Iranian team as it prepares for its opening World Cup game.

"US sanctions mean that, as a US company, Nike cannot supply shoes to players in the Iranian National team at this time," Nike said.

June, 13 2018

Iranians React To Trump-Kim Summit 

While the Iranian government has warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un not to trust U.S. President Donald Trump, many ordinary Iranians on social media had words of praise for the two leaders.

After June 12’s historic meeting between Trump and Kim in Singapore on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht noted the fate of his country’s nuclear deal (JCPOA) and suggested Trump could pull out of the deal with North Korea before returning home.

Read more...

June, 25 2018

Protests Erupt In Tehran As Iranian Currency Takes A Nose-Dive

Tehran’s cell phone market went on strike on Sunday June 24, with store owners and people marching in protest in Jomhouri (Republic) Avenue as the city’s Forex market, just a stone-throw away, recorded the highest value for US dollar against the Iranian currency rial.

 

June, 26 2018

Rouhani Says Iran Will Not Give In To Pressure From Trump

In a speech broadcast live on state television on June 26, Rohani said that government revenues have not decreased in recent months, and blamed the fall in the value of the rial on "foreign media propaganda."

Read More...

June, 26 2018

Iranian Officials Plead With The People To Save The Day

It is the duty of all Iranians to help the government overcome economic problems, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said Wednesday, according to Fars News.

Various Islamic Republic officials have been expressing similar views in the light of recent economic and currency turmoil in Iran.

Read more...

June, 29 2018

The Bazaar, A Force To Be Reckoned With In Iranian Political Landscape

The bazaar is no longer the intertwined labyrinths of crossroads and cubicles under arched roofs. Part of the modern bazaar runs its business from high-rise buildings and vast malls in downtowns, as well as the more affluent parts of major Iranian cities.

Read more...

July, 1 2018

Iran Will Allow Private Sector To Export Oil

DUBAI, July 1 (Reuters)

Iran will allow private companies to export crude oil to help beat U.S. sanctions, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Sunday.

"Iranian crude will be offered on the bourse and the private sector can export it," Jahangiri said in remarks about looming U.S. sanctions, carried live on state television, adding: "Anyone trying to take away Iran's oil market (share) would be committing great treachery against Iran and will one day pay for it."

July, 2 2018

U.S. Aims To Reduce Iran's Oil Revenue To Zero -- State Department Official

 

July, 4 2018

ATR Distances Itself From Iran

Iran’s aviation industry has received another severe blow. Following the footsteps of Boeing and Airbus, ATR also announced last week that it has decided to distance itself from Tehran.

The decision was announced at a time that ATR had prepared several planes for delivery to Tehran, and even painted them exclusively for the Islamic Republic’s national airline, Iran Air.

July, 6 2018

Read In Full: EU Statement On Vienna Talks With Iran

1. Upon the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was held on 6 July in Vienna at ministerial level. The Joint Commission met to discuss the way forward to ensure the continued implementation of the nuclear deal in all its aspects and review unresolved issues arising from the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the agreement and the announced re-imposition of sanctions lifted under the JCPOA and its Annex II, which they deeply regret.

Read more...

July, 6 2018

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini Speaks After Talks In Vienna

July, 17 2018

 

Iran Sues U.S. At World Court For Leaving Nuclear Deal

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that Iran has filed a lawsuit against the United States over the reimposition of sanctions against Tehran by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, claiming the move violates the nuclear treaty Tehran signed with the United States and five other world powers.

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July, 23 2018

Iranians React To Trump And Rouhani’s War Of Words

Iranian Judicial Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi were among several other officials who responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent comments that came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's belligerent speech.

Amoli Larijani threatened that "any illogical move by the United States would entail a memorable response," the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported on July 23.

Read more ...

 

July, 24 2018

Iran Replaces Central Bank Chief As Economy Faces Crisis

Valiollah Seif, who had served as the bank's governor since President Hassan Rouhani took power in August 2013, was replaced by Abdolnasser Hemati following a cabinet meeting, according to the official IRNA news agency.

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July, 27 2018

Senators Warn Europe Against Flouting U.S. Iran Sanctions

The 10 senators, all of whom opposed the 2015 agreement, said in a letter to the ambassadors of Britain, France and Germany that they would be "particularly troubled" by any efforts to evade or undermine the sanctions. They said attempts to do so could be met by congressional action. A first set of U.S. sanctions lifted by the Obama administration under the terms of the nuclear deal is to be restored on Aug. 4. A second set will be re-imposed on Nov. 4.

Read more...

August, 2 2018

Iranian Cities Again Hit By Protests Over Currency Drop, Economic Woes

Hundreds of protesters returned to the streets of several Iranian cities on August 2, according to state media and social-media posts, amid growing anxiety over the country’s economic difficulties.

Iranians angered by high inflation and increasing economic hardship caused in part by the dramatic decline of the national currency, the rial, have been protesting across the country for the past several days.

Read more...

 

August, 5 2018

Iranian Cities Hit By Protests For Fifth Day As First Death Reported

Videos posted on social media purported to show rallies in the capital, Tehran, and in the cities of Karaj, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Qom, as Iranians brace for the return of U.S. sanctions following President Donald Trump's decision in May to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Read more...

August, 6 2018

Pompeo Confirms U.S. Will Reimpose Sanctions, EU Disagrees

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that the United States would "enforce the sanctions" it is reimposing after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear pact that Iran signed with six world powers.

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August, 6 2018

Trump Signs Order Reimposing Sanctions On Iran

 U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the reimposition of major financial sanctions on Iran, targeting currency purchases and key industries three months after pulling out of the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.

In a statement on August 6, Trump repeated his longstanding position that the 2015 accord which provided Tehran with relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program was “a horrible, one-sided deal."

August, 8 2018

Khamenei Says Iran Does Not Have Anything To Worry About

BEIRUT, Aug 8 (Reuters) -

Iran's utmost authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic had nothing to be concerned about, a report on his official website said on Wednesday, as the country's clerical leadership faces biting U.S. sanctions.

"With regard to our situation do not be worried at all. Nobody can do anything," his website Khamenei.ir quoted him as saying in one of his speeches in the past weeks, but was published only a day after the new U.S. sanctions took effect.

August, 14 2018

Iran Offers Oil Discounts To Keep Its Asian Customers

An official at the state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has told state-run news agency, IRNA, that the company was reducing its prices for September sales to Asia to their lowest level in 14 years, compared with Saudi crude.

Read more...

August, 15 2018

Economic Crisis In Iran Leading To Job Cuts And Inflation

Iranian Auto parts manufacturers says 450 thousand workers in this industry are likely to lose their jobs as a result of Iran's foreign currency crisis. At the same time, Iranian media report that rising prices of foodstuff and cost of housing on a daily basis make life harder for most Iranians.

Read more...

August, 23 2018

Why Airlines Are Suspending Flights To Iran

British Airways, Air France, and its Dutch sibling, KLM, announced on August 23 that they would halt flights to Iran from September for business reasons, months after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would re-impose sanctions on Tehran.

Read more...

August, 28 2018

Iran Oil Exports Set To Drop In August Ahead Of U.S. sanctions - Data

SINGAPORE, Aug 28 (Reuters)

Iran's crude oil and condensate exports in August are set to drop below 70 million barrels for the first time since April 2017, well ahead of the Nov. 4 start date for a second round of U.S. economic sanctions.

August, 28 2018

Rouhani Defends Economic Policy Before Harsh Criticism From Parliament

Iranian lawmakers grilled President Hassan Rouhani over his economic performance in a special session of parliament August 28.

Rising unemployment, the spiraling devaluation of the national currency, a surge in smuggling and other economic crimes, renewed sanctions against Iran’s banks, and the country’s general economic decline were all on the agenda at Tuesday’s session.

Read more...

August, 30 2018

By RFE/RL

Iran has kept its nuclear program within the main limits imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers despite the U.S. pullout from the agreement, the United Nations nuclear watchdog says.

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on August 30 is the second quarterly report released since President Donald Trump in May announced Washington's withdrawal from the pact and reimposed sanctions against Tehran.

September, 4 2018

New Unemployment Figures 'Alarming,' Says Iranian Parliament

A study conducted by the Research Center of the Iranian Parliament says that the current unemployment figures in Iran are alarming.

The results of the study were published on the parliament's website and indicate that the soaring unemployment over the past four years "may give rise to a crisis."

Read more...

September, 4 2018

Radio Farda Exclusive Interview With Radio Farda 

Iran's enmity with Israel has led Arabs to realize it is Iran's radical regime that is their enemy, not Israel, said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman in an exclusive interview with Radio Farda on September 4.

"This is perhaps the first time moderate Arabs realize Iran is their main enemy, not Israel, the Jewish people or Zionism," he said. "We owe this change in attitudes among Arabs to Iran, and this is a step forward.”

Read more...

September, 11 2018

 

AP Interview: Iran Nuclear Chief Hopes Deal Will Survive

Iran's nuclear chief said Tuesday he hopes Tehran's landmark atomic deal with world powers will survive President Donald Trump withdrawing the U.S. from it, warning the Islamic Republic's program stands ready to build advanced centrifuges and further enrich uranium

September, 11 2018

 

AP Interview: Iran Nuclear Chief Hopes Deal Will Survive

Iran's nuclear chief said Tuesday he hopes Tehran's landmark atomic deal with world powers will survive President Donald Trump withdrawing the U.S. from it, warning the Islamic Republic's program stands ready to build advanced centrifuges and further enrich uranium

September, 18 2018

As Iran's Economy Suffers, Afghan Migrants Forced To Go Home

September, 26 2018

 

Iran Rial Hits Record Low Around 189,000 Against Dollar -FX Websites

Tracking the rial since the January 1st. 

September, 27 2018

'Not Good' -- Trump Blasts Iran In UN Speech

September, 27 2018

Rohani Calls U.S. Sanctions 'Economic Terrorism'

October, 3 2018

U.S. Terminates 1955 'Friendship' Treaty With Iran After UN Court Ruling

The United States says it is canceling a decades-old friendship treaty with Iran after Tehran cited it in an international court case against Washington's sanctions policy.

"I'm announcing that the US is terminating the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran. This is a decision, frankly, that is 39 years overdue," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters on October 3, referring to the year of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Read more...

October, 9 2018

Iran's Access to SWIFT Being Debated In Washington

The Washington Free Beacon reports that some in the U.S. Treasury Departmentare trying to save Iran’s access to SWIFT, which can help Tehran to maintain access to the world banking and financial network.

SWIFT is a system that enables its nearly 10,000 institutional members around the world to securely transfer money around the globe.

During the Obama-era sanctions on Iran, SWIFT stopped doing business with Iran out of concern that it would violate U.S. laws and regulations. Now, with President Donald Trump’s reimposed sanctions the question is whether to give a pass to SWIFT or adopt a prohibitive stance.

October, 23 2018

Saudi Ready To Boost Oil Output, Spare Capacity: Minister

Riyadh, Oct 23, 2018 (AFP)


Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Tuesday the OPEC kingpin was ready to boost its crude production and spare capacity to help maintain a balance in the global oil market.

Speaking at an investment conference in Riyadh, Falih also said OPEC and non-OPEC producers are expected to sign in December an "open-ended" agreement to continue cooperation in the energy markets.

October, 27 2018

Rouhani Says U.S. Isolated Against Iran, Reshuffles Economic Team

DUBAI, Oct 27 (Reuters)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that the United States was isolated among its traditional allies in its confrontation with Iran, and that even Europe was siding with Tehran against the reimposition of U.S. sanctions.

Rouhani was speaking at the start of a parliament session to discuss a cabinet reshuffle which includes a proposed new economy minister, academic Farhad Dejpasand, who is widely seen as a technocrat, and three other economy-linked ministers.

October, 30 2018

Denmark Says Tehran Plotted 'Attack', Recalls Ambassador - Push For New Sanctions

Denmark has accused Iran of plotting to assassinate an Iranian Arab opposition leader on the European Union member’s territory and will push for fresh EU-wide sanctions against Iran, Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said on Tuesday.

Denmark also recalled its ambassador to Iran, as the Iranian foreign ministry denied any connection with the alleged plot.

Read more...

November, 1 2018

 

IMF Says Iran Should Safeguard Stability In Face Of U.S. Sanctions

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that Iran should implement policies to safeguard its macroeconomic stability in the face of reimposed U.S. sanctions that will cut Iranian economic growth by reducing oil exports.

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice also told a regular media briefing that the Fund was urging Iran to strengthen its anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing frameworks to comply with international standards by a deadline in February 2019.

November, 2 2018

Iran Could Join Talks If U.S. Signals Flexibility, Say Analysts

Western news agencies have been expressing doubts over the effectiveness of the second round of U.S. sanctions against Iran three days before they go into effect on November 5.

"As U.S. President Donald Trump resumes sanctions on Iran, the success of his push to curb its nuclear, missile, and regional activities may hinge on how flexible he is willing to be on his extensive demands to coax Tehran into talks," Reuters wrote in a November 2 analysis.

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November, 2 2018

U.S. Allows Eight 'Jurisdictions' To Keep Buying Iran Oil For Now

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters)

The United States said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight jurisdictions to keep importing Iranian oil when U.S. sanctions come back into force on Monday, sparing them for now from the threat of U.S. economic penalties.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced the decision in a conference call, did not name the jurisdictions, but said the European Union as a whole, which has 28 members, would not receive one.

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November, 5 2018

The United States reimposes oil and financial sanctions against Iran.

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