Iran’s nuclear programme, which began in the 1950s with the help of the United States, is a tale of immense financial and human sacrifices. Ironically, the very country that helped Tehran launch it now appears determined to destroy it nearly 75 years later.
During the Pahlavi dynasty in the 1970s, the programme expanded with the installation of nuclear power reactors. However, after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the programme was halted, and the US imposed its first economic sanctions.
In the 1990s, suspicions arose in the international community that Iran was secretly developing nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted its first inspection in 2003, uncovering Iran’s nuclear activities.
In 2006, permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany initiated talks with Iran. This resulted in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% and reduce its enriched uranium stockpile.
Iran also allowed the IAEA full monitoring access to its nuclear sites, and the agency confirmed Iran’s transparency until 2015.
In 2018, the United States — under President Donald Trump — withdrew from the deal, prompting Iran to gradually resume uranium enrichment. After 2021, enrichment levels reached 60%. Between 2021 and 2025, the IAEA expressed doubts and concerns over Iran’s lack of cooperation.
