Six decades of Iran’s nuclear programme 1957 U.S. nuclear aid U.S backs Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (right) and his nuclear ambitions under Atoms for Peace programme 1960 U.S. builds research reactor at Tehran University. U.S. provides fuel for reactor – 93% enriched uranium. Reactor goes critical in 1967 1968 Iran signs nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ratified in 1970, NPT allows civil nuclear programme under commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons 1974 German and French companies agree to build nuclear power plants at Bushehr and Bandar Abbas 1979 Revolution Shah is ousted in Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. U.S. withdraws from nuclear agreements. Supply of enriched uranium banned, forcing Iran to become self-sufficient 1980 Iran-Iraq War Iraq’s Saddam Hussein invades Iran, backed by U.S. and West. One million killed in eight-year war 1986 Israel’s bomb Existence of Israel’s secret nuclear weapons programme is revealed by whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu 1987 Khan network Iran contacts Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme. Khan network allegedly sells bomb-related drawings and parts for centrifuges to enrich uranium 1994 First nuclear power station Russian experts help Iran complete Bushehr nuclear power plant. Deal is part of joint agreement between Russia and Iran, which includes provision to build up to eight new reactors in Iran. Plant becomes operational in 2011 2002 Arak, Natanz nuclear facilities discovered 2003 Iran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment during talks with France, Germany and UK 2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected as Iran’s president. Iran resumes enrichment 2013 Hassan Rouhani (left) is elected Iranian president. Iran plus U.S., UK, France, Russia, China and Germany (P5+1) reach Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) to freeze Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for decreased sanctions 2015 Iran nuclear deal JPOA leads to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran, P5+1 and EU 2016 Deal enacted Number of centrifuges cut from 20,172 to 6,104. Enriched uranium stockpile cut from 8,910kg to 300kg – all below 3.67% enrichment 2018 May 8: U.S. President Donald Trump quits Iran nuclear deal Nuclear site Uranium mining Research reactor Anarak Nuclear waste Tehran Research reactor Parchin Military site Fordow Enrichment plant Karaj Uranium enrichment Arak Heavy water reactor Natanz Main enrichment plant IRAN IRAQ TURKMENISTAN KUWAIT Persian Gulf Caspian Sea TURKEY SAUDI ARABIA AFGHANISTAN SYRIA Bushehr Gachin Saghand Ramsar Bonab Ardakan Bandar Abbas Isfahan 200km 120 miles Sources: Arms Control Association, NPR, Oxford Research Group Pictures: Associated Press