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In 2004 and 2005, the IAEA uncovered inconsistencies and omissions in Iran's disclosures, such as experiments with plutonium separation and advanced P-2 centrifuge designs that Iran had failed to report.<ref name=":1" /> Iran's suspension of enrichment proved short-lived as soon it resumed certain nuclear activities.<ref name=":1" /> In June 2004, the IAEA's Board rebuked Iran for not fully cooperating.<ref name=":1" /> By September 2005, the Board found Iran in non-compliance with its safeguards (a formal trigger for UN Security Council involvement).<ref name=":1" /> Iran reacted by ceasing voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol and restarting enrichment work. In April 2006, President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] announced that Iran had enriched uranium to 3.5% U-235, low enriched uranium suitable for nuclear fuel, using a cascade of 164 centrifuges at Natanz.<ref name=":1" /> This marked Iran’s first public entry into the nuclear fuel-cycle capability club.<ref name=":1" />
The international community responded firmly. In July 2006, the UN Security Council passed [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696|Resolution 1696]] under Chapter VII, demanding Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities or face sanctions.<ref name=":1" /> When Iran defied this demand, the Security Council proceeded to adopt a series of escalating sanctions between 2006 and 2010.<ref name=":1" /> The first, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737|Resolution 1737]] in December 2006, imposed sanctions targeting sensitive nuclear and missile programs and banned nuclear-related trade with Iran.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Timeline of Nuclear Diplomacy With Iran, 1967-2023 {{!}} Arms Control Association |url=https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/timeline-nuclear-diplomacy-iran-1967-2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250603131932/https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/timeline-nuclear-diplomacy-iran-1967-2023 |archive-date=2025-06-03 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.armscontrol.org |language=en}}</ref> Further resolutions (1747 in 2007, 1803 in 2008, and 1929 in June 2010) broadened the sanctions to include arms embargos, asset freezes on key individuals and entities, and restrictions on financial dealings.<ref name=":2" /> These measures, backed by the US, Russia, China, and the EU alike, aimed to pressure Iran to halt enrichment. In parallel, the US and EU introduced their own
Diplomatic efforts during 2005–2006 tried to resolve the standoff. The newly formed [[P5+1]] group (China, Russia, France, the UK, the US, plus Germany) offered Iran a package of incentives in mid-2006 to halt enrichment – including nuclear fuel guarantees and economic benefits.<ref name=":1" /> Iran, under the hardline Ahmadinejad administration, rejected the offer, insisting on its "right" to enrich under the NPT. As talks faltered, Iran steadily expanded its enrichment work. By 2007, Iran had installed roughly 3,000 IR-1 centrifuges at Natanz and was enriching larger quantities of uranium.<ref name=":1" /> In 2007, a US [[National Intelligence Estimate]] (NIE) assessed with high confidence that while Iran had halted its structured nuclear weapons program in 2003, it was continuing to develop technical capabilities applicable to nuclear weapons.<ref name=":2" /> This finding somewhat tempered the urgency of the crisis, but concerns remained over Iran's growing stockpile of enriched uranium and its long-term intentions.
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In March 2025, US President [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump]] sent a [[Donald Trump's letter to Ali Khamenei|letter to Iran]] seeking to reopen negotiations.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Fassihi |first2=Farnaz |last3=Broadwater |first3=Luke |date=2025-03-08 |title=Trump Offers to Reopen Nuclear Talks in a Letter to Iran's Supreme Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/us/politics/trump-iran-nuclear-talks.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Trump sends letter to Iran's supreme leader amid tensions over country's nuclear program |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-sends-letter-to-irans-supreme-leader-amid-tensions-over-countrys-nuclear-program |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Trump wrote to Iran's leader about that country's nuclear program and expects results 'very soon' |url=https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-trump-letter-khamenei-f78aeb869d146978b6d377184e236ef9 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later said, "Some bullying governments insist on negotiations not to resolve issues but to impose their own expectations," which was seen as in response to the letter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sampson |first=Eve |date=2025-03-08 |title=Iran's Leader Rebuffs Trump's Outreach Over Its Nuclear Program |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/world/middleeast/trump-iran-nuclear-deal-leader-response.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bigg |first=Matthew Mpoke |date=2025-03-10 |title=Iran Signals Openness to Limited Nuclear Talks With U.S. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/world/europe/iran-nuclear-trump-us.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Garrett |first=Luke |date=2025-03-09 |title=Trump rebuffed by Iran's leader after sending letter calling for nuclear negotiation |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/03/09/g-s1-52882/trump-iran-nuclear |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>
In late March 2025,
In April 2025, Trump revealed that Iran had decided to undertake [[2025 United States–Iran negotiations|talks with the United States]] for an agreement over its nuclear program.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-is-giving-talks-with-us-genuine-chance-foreign-ministry-spokesperson-says-2025-04-11/ Iran says it will give US talks about nuclear plans a 'genuine chance'], Nayera Abdallah, Reuters, 11 April 2025.</ref> On 12 April, both countries held their first high-level meeting in Oman,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2025 |title=US and Iran hold 'constructive' first round of nuclear talks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2eggzvjgo |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=BBC |language=en}}</ref> followed by a second meeting on 19 April in Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2025 |title=Iran, US conclude second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250419-iran-us-to-hold-second-round-of-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-rome |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> On May 16, Trump sent Iran an offer and said they have to move quickly or else bad things would happen.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 16, 2025 |title=Trump administration live updates: President says U.S. offered a nuclear proposal to Iran and inks AI deal with UAE |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-administration-live-updates-president-trump-set-end-mideast-trip-rcna206143 |website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |last2=Gambrell |first2=Jon |date=2025-05-16 |title=Trump says Iran has a proposal from the US on its rapidly advancing nuclear program |url=https://www.ksnt.com/news/international/ap-trump-says-iran-has-a-proposal-from-the-us-on-its-rapidly-advancing-nuclear-program/ |website=KSNT}}</ref> On May 17, Khamenei condemned Trump, saying that he lied about wanting peace and that he was not worth responding to, calling the US demands "outrageous nonsense."<ref>{{cite web |date=May 20, 2025 |title=Iran's Khamenei slams 'outrageous' US demands in nuclear talks |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-reviewing-proposal-5th-round-nuclear-talks-2025-05-20/ |website=Reuters}}</ref> Khamenei also reiterated that Israel is a "cancerous tumour" that must be uprooted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khamenei: Trump lied when he said he wants peace; Israel 'cancerous tumor' in region |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/khamenei-trump-lied-when-he-said-he-wants-peace-israel-cancerous-tumor-in-region/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US |agency=Reuters}}</ref>
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On 13 June 2025, Israel attacked the plant as part of the [[Iran–Israel war#13 June|June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran]]. Iranian forces said they had shot down an Israeli drone.<ref name=BrunnstromMartina>David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina, [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/damage-iranian-nuclear-sites-so-far-appears-limited-experts-say-2025-06-13/ Damage to Iranian nuclear sites so far appears limited, experts say], Reuters (June 13, 2025).</ref>
On 21 June, the US bombed the [[Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant]], the [[Natanz Nuclear Facility]], and the [[Isfahan Nuclear Technology/Research Center|Isfahan]] nuclear technology center.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Eric |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=2025-06-21 |title=U.S. Enters War With Iran, Striking Fordo Nuclear Site: Live Updates |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/21/world/iran-israel-trump |access-date=2025-06-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In an address from the White House, Trump claimed
== Main facilities ==
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