1907Russian and Britain Define 'Spheres of Influence' Over Iran
The Anglo-Russian agreement between Russia and Britain divided Iran into spheres of influence – Russian in the North and British in the South. This challenged Iran's moves toward independence.
1951
Nationalist Prime Minister Mossadeq Begins Reign
Mohammad Mossadeq begins to nationalize Iranian oil, decreasing the influence of the British oil industry. Britain starts to worry about their influence and control over Iranian oil. After opposing Mossadeq, the Shah leaves Iran.
US-Backed Coup Ousts Mossadeq and Reinstates the Shah
In response to Prime Minister Mossadeq's nationalization of Iran's oil, U.S. and British intelligence agencies orchestrated a coup. Mossadeq was ousted and the shah was reinstate, ensuring support for Western oil interest.
1979
Iranian Revolution
Mass demonstrations and riots take place. Shah flees country as the unrest escalates. Khomeini, returns after 14 years of exile in France. As the supreme leader of Iran, Khomeini establishes an Islamic Republic.
US Embassy Hostage Crisis
In October 1979, the U.S. allows Iran's shah to enter the country to receive treatment for cancer. Militant students seize the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, demanding that the U.S. send the shah back to Iran for trial. The crisis lasted for 444 days.
1985-1986Iran-Contra Scandal
US officials secretly sold arms to Iran despite a weapons embargo on Iran in hopes to increase US approval in Iran and Lebanon. Reagan also hoped the arms would free US held hostages in Lebanon. Reagan not only suffered once the scandal was uncovered, but Oliver North, who had diverted the funds from the transactions to the Contras, an anti-revolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.
1997-2005Khatami Presidency
Mohammad Khatami, a reformist, was elected president of Iran in 1997. Following his election, he called for a "dialogue with the American people" in an interview that aired by U.S. press. However, although Khatami's presidency posed prospects of a thawing in Iran-U.S. relations, there was no breakthrough.
2002"Axis of Evil"
A few months after 9/11, George W. Bush uses the phrase "Axis of Evil" referring to Iran and other enemies of the United States. This phrase is common repeated by Bush throughout his presidency as he attempts to rally support against countries that assisted terrorism and tried to obtain weapons of mass destruction.
Nuclear Fears and Sanction on Iran
In 2002, and Iranian opposition group revealed that Iran was developing nuclear facilities including a uranium enrichment plant. Between 2006 and 2010, the UN ratifies four rounds of sanctions on Iran. The US and EU also impose sanctions on Iran, stepping up measures in 2012. By 2013, Iran's currency lost 2/3 of its value in under two years.
Ahmadinejad Presidency
Former mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received much internal and external criticism during his presidency. Known to have an aggressive approach to foreign affairs, with the US in particular, Ahmedinejad supported Iran's Nuclear program. His disputed win for a second term causes demonstrators to take to the streets. He was believed not to hold human rights in high regards.
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Rouhani Presidency
With Rouhani as president, the US and Iran have broken their thirty years of silence. The historic September phone call between Obama and Rouhani marked the first direct conversation between leaders in Washington and Tehran since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and both Presidents have expressed determination to work to solve the long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear program
