1953 CIA coup in Iran
- The US and Britain are staging a coup against Iran's President Mossadeq who wanted to nationalize the oil resources. Western-friendly Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi takes over power in Iran.
1979 The Islamic Republic
- Revolution erupts in Iran, directed against the Shah and the United States, against corruption and brutality. Iran becomes an authoritarian Islamic republic under the religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini.
1979 Embassy hostage
- US embassy in Iran's capital Tehran is stormed by protesters. About 50 Americans are held hostage for several months.
1980 The Lebanese Militia
- Hezbollah, a para-military organization created in Lebanon with the support of Iran. The militia challenges the US allies in the region, Lebanon's neighbor Israel.
1983 Car bomb against US Embassy
- In the capital of Lebanon Beirut. 241 US Marine Corps soldiers are killed. Syria and Iran are considered to be behind the attack.
2002 Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program
- International sanctions against Iran on suspicion of developing nuclear weapons. US President George Bush points out Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the "axis of evil".
2015 Nuclear agreement with Iran
- Barack Obama is president and concludes agreements with Iran and a number of other major powers. Iran promises to reduce its nuclear energy program by easing economic sanctions.
2018 The United States withdraws from the nuclear agreement
- US President Donald Trump leaves the deal and faces financial sanctions on Iran. He does not consider Iran to be reliable or live up to the agreement. Iran threatens to stop following parts of the agreement, which has also been signed with France, Germany, the UK, Russia and China.
2019 Escalation
- A contractor at a US base in Iraq is killed by a missile attack. The United States goes against an Iran-backed militia in Iraq that is identified as responsible. 25 people are killed and 50 injured. Supporters of the Iran-backed militia attack the United States embassy in Iraq's capital Baghdad.