From allies to enemies
Key events in the fractious relationship between Iran and the US
THE SHAH RETURNS
■ In 1953, US and UK organise a coup to oust Iran's prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh, fascilitating the return from exile of the pro-West Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
■ Iran becomes one of the most important clients of the US defence industry. The two countries sign a programme of civil nuclear cooperation in 1957
HOSTAGE CRISIS
■ In 1979, radical students demanding the extradition of the shah from the US, where he was undergoing medical treatment, take hostage more than 60 US diplomats and staff at the US embassy in Tehran. The final 52 captives are freed after 444 days.
■ US sanctions Iran
■ In 1988, US shoots down an Iran Air Airbus over the Gulf, killing 290 people
'AXIS OF EVIL'
■ In 1995, US President Bill Clinton launches a ban on trade and investment with Iran over its seeking nuclear weapons
■ In 2002, President George W Bush labels Iran part of an "axis of evil" of countries
NUCLEAR DEAL
■ In 2013, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and former US president Barack Obama speak by phone, the first direct communication between leaders of the two nations since 1979
■ Tehran and major world powers ink the nuclear deal in 2015
DETENTE ENDS
■ US pulls out of the nuclear pact in May 2018 under President Donald Trump, and reinstates sanctions.
■ In May 2019, Iran begins to disengage from its commitments under the deal, such as limiting enriched uranium and heavy water stocks
■ Tensions soar when Iran's Revolutionary Guard says in June that it shot down a US drone because it was in Iranian airspace
■ In July, Iran says it has enriched uranium to 4.5%, breaching the accord