History of Iran in Timeline

Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in West Asia bordering several nations and bodies of water. With a population of 92 million, it ranks 17th globally in size and population and is the sixth-largest country in Asia. The country is divided into five regions comprising 31 provinces. Tehran serves as its capital, largest city, and financial hub.

1905: Start of the Persian Constitutional Revolution

In 1905, the Persian Constitutional Revolution began, leading to the establishment of an Iranian parliament.

1911: End of the Persian Constitutional Revolution

In 1911, the Persian Constitutional Revolution concluded, resulting in the establishment of an Iranian parliament.

1921: Coup d'état

Following the 1921 coup d'état, the Qajar dynasty was replaced by the Pahlavi dynasty.

1925: Establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty

In 1925, Reza Shah established the Pahlavi dynasty after ousting the last Qajar Shah.

1925: Mandatory Military Service Established

Since 1925, all male citizens of Iran aged 18 have been required to serve around 14 months in the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces (IRIAF) or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

1928: Establishment of Fine Art School

In 1928, a new Iranian school of fine art was established by Kamal-ol-molk.

1933: Tehran Symphony Orchestra Founded

The Tehran Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1933.

August 1941: Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran

In August 1941, the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran (Operation Countenance) occurred after Iran rejected demands to expel German residents, securing Iranian oil fields and Allied supply lines.

1941: Abdication of Reza Shah

In 1941, Reza Shah was forced to abdicate due to the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.

1941: Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran

In 1941, the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran occurred, leading to the rise of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

1943: Tehran Conference

In 1943, the Allied "Big Three" issued the Tehran Declaration at the Tehran Conference to guarantee the post-war independence and boundaries of Iran.

1947: National Olympic Committee Founded

Iran's National Olympic Committee was founded in 1947.

1949: School of National Music Established

In 1949, Ruhollah Khaleqi founded the country's first national music society and established the School of National Music.

1949: Opening of Apadana Gallery

In 1949, Tehran's first modern art gallery, Apadana, was opened by Mahmud Javadipur, Hosein Kazemi, and Hushang Ajudani.

1950: Urbanization Growth

From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of Iran's population increased from 27% to 60%.

1951: Nationalization of oil industry

In 1951, under Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, the Iranian parliament voted to nationalize the British-owned oil industry, leading to the Abadan Crisis.

1952: Re-appointment of Mosaddegh

In 1952, Mosaddegh was removed from power but quickly re-appointed by the shah due to a popular uprising.

1952: Government control of commercial fishing

In 1952, the Iranian government assumed control of commercial fishing operations.

August 1953: Shah's brief exile

In August 1953, Mosaddegh forced the shah into a brief exile after a failed military coup.

1953: Anglo-American coup

In 1953, the Anglo-American coup took place following Mohammad Mosaddegh's attempts to nationalize the oil industry.

1956: Iran's population

In 1956 Iran's population was about 19 million.

1960: Co-invention of the first gas laser

In 1960, Ali Javan co-invented the first gas laser.

1974: Iran Hosts Asian Games

In 1974, Iran became the first country in West Asia to host the Asian Games.

1976: Increased fish production from inland waters

Between 1976 and 2004, Iran saw a rise in fish production from inland waters by both state and private sectors, increasing from 1,100 tons to 110,175 tons.

March 1979: Referendum on transition to Islamic Republic

On 31 March 1979, a referendum was approved by a massive margin to transition Iran from a monarchy to an Islamic republic.

November 1979: Seizure of US embassy personnel

On 4 November 1979, Iranian students seized US embassy personnel, holding 52 hostages.

December 1979: Khomeini becomes Supreme Leader

In December 1979, Khomeini became Supreme Leader after the creation of an assembly to draft the new theocratic constitution.

1979: Iran Derecognizes Israel

In 1979, Iran derecognized the state of Israel, leading to strained diplomatic relations.

1979: Iranian Revolution

In 1979, the Iranian Revolution overthrew the monarchy, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was established by Ruhollah Khomeini.

September 1980: Iraq invades Iran

On 22 September 1980, the Iraqi army invaded Iran at Khuzestan, initiating the Iran-Iraq War.

1980: Iraq invades Iran

In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, initiating the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War.

January 1981: Release of US hostages

In January 1981, the 52 US hostages held since November 1979 were released after 444 days.

1982: Iranian forces push back Iraqi army

By 1982, Iranian forces had pushed the Iraqi army back into Iraq.

1982: Iran starts supporting Hezbollah

In 1982, Iran began building military forces with a wide network of state and non-state actors, starting with Hezbollah in Lebanon, increasing its regional influence.

1988: End of Iran-Iraq War

In 1988, Khomeini accepted a truce mediated by the UN, ending the Iran-Iraq War in a stalemate.

June 1989: Death of Khomeini

Following Khomeini's death on 3 June 1989, Ali Khamenei was named as the next Supreme Leader.

1989: Formation of the Supreme National Security Council

During the 1989 Iranian constitutional referendum, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) was formed to protect national interests, the revolution, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty.

1989: Rafsanjani's Pro-Business Policies

In 1989, President Akbar Rafsanjani focused on a pro-business policy of rebuilding the economy.

1991: First attack on Israel by a state force since 1991

In April 2024, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time since 1991.

1996: Increase in Publication Output

From 1996 through 2004, Iran nearly tenfold its publication output.

1997: Khatami succeeds Rafsanjani

In 1997, moderate reformist Mohammad Khatami succeeded Rafsanjani as president.

2000: Juan José Linz on Iranian Regime

In 2000, Juan José Linz described the Iranian regime as combining the ideological bent of totalitarianism with the limited pluralism of authoritarianism.

2001: Iran Exported Technical and Engineering Services

From 2001 to 2011, Iran exported over $20 billion worth of technical and engineering services.

2002: Urbanization Growth

From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of Iran's population increased from 27% to 60%.

2003: Population Estimate

According to a 2003 estimate, Persians made up 51% of the population, Azerbaijanis 24%, Gilaks and Mazenderanis 8%, Kurds 7%, Arabs 3%, Lurs 2%, Balochis 2%, and Turkmens 2%.

2003: US Invasion of Iraq

After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iran took advantage of the instability to build strong alliances and footholds beyond its borders.

2003: US Invasion of Iraq and Iran's Influence

Following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iran began to shape Iraq's politics and finance militia groups.

2003: Bam earthquake

The 2003 Bam earthquake was a devastating shallow-focus earthquake in Iran.

2004: Fish production increase

Between 1976 and 2004, combined take from inland waters increased from 1,100 tons to 110,175 tons.

2004: Increase in Publication Output

From 1996 through 2004, Iran nearly tenfold its publication output.

2004: Opening of wind-powered and geothermal plants

In 2004, Iran inaugurated its first wind-powered and geothermal plants.

2004: Establishment of Iranian Space Agency

In 2004, the Iranian Space Agency was established.

2004: Iran's Support to Houthis in Yemen

Since 2004 during Yemen's civil war, Iran provided military support to the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia movement fighting Yemen's Sunni government.

2005: Highest recorded temperature in the Lut Desert

In 2005, the Lut Desert recorded a temperature of 70.7 °C, the hottest recorded spot on Earth's surface.

2005: Ahmadinejad elected president

The 2005 presidential election brought conservative populist and nationalist candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power.

2006: Hezbollah's Strategic Successes Against Israel

Hezbollah's strategic successes against Israel, such as its symbolic victory during the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War, elevated Iran's influence in the Levant and strengthened its appeal across the Muslim World.

2006: Cloning of a sheep

In 2006, Iranian scientists successfully cloned a sheep at the Royan Research Centre in Tehran.

2006: Disputed Election Results and Protests

In 2006, election results were widely disputed, leading to protests.

2007: Asian Championship Won

Since 2007, the men's national basketball team has won three Asian Championships.

2008: Increase in annual industrial production growth rate

From 2008 to 2009, Iran experienced a significant increase in its annual industrial production growth rate, rising to 28th place from 69th.

2008: Population Estimate

In 2008, the Library of Congress issued estimates: 65% Persians (including Gilaks and Mazenderanis), 16% Azerbaijanis, 7% Kurds, 6% Lurs, 2% Arabs, 2% Balochis, and 1% Turkic tribal groups.

2009: Increase in annual industrial production growth rate

From 2008 to 2009, Iran experienced a significant increase in its annual industrial production growth rate, rising to 28th place from 69th.

2009: Becoming an Orbital-Launch-Capable Nation

In 2009, Iran became an orbital-launch-capable nation and placed its domestically built satellite Omid into orbit using its first expendable launch vehicle Safir.

2009: First solar thermal plant began operating

In 2009, Iran's first solar thermal plant commenced operations.

2009: Facebook Blocked

Since 2009, direct access to Facebook has been blocked in Iran.

2010: Government's goal of installed capacity

By 2010, the government aimed for 53 GW of installed capacity by adding gas-fired plants, hydropower, and nuclear generation capacity.

2010: Unveiling of Sorena 2 Robot

In 2010, the Iranian humanoid robot Sorena 2, designed by engineers at the University of Tehran, was unveiled.

2010: Inscription of Carpet Weaving Skills

In 2010, the "traditional skills of carpet weaving" in Fars Province and Kashan were inscribed to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

2010: Economic Reform Plan

In 2010, the economic reform plan was to gradually cut subsidies and replace them with targeted social assistance, moving towards free market prices and increased productivity and social justice.

2010: Introduction of National Basic Income

In Autumn 2010, Iran was the first country to introduce a national basic income.

2011: First nuclear power plant went online

In 2011, Iran's first nuclear power plant began operations.

2011: Population Estimate

In 2011, The World Factbook gave the same population figures as the 2003 estimate.

2011: Iranian Industrial Companies Carrying Out Projects

In 2011, approximately 66 Iranian industrial companies were involved in projects across 27 countries.

2011: Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

The men's national volleyball team won the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in 2011.

2012: SCImago Study on Research Output

According to a 2012 study by SCImago, Iran would rank fourth in research output by 2018 if the trend persisted.

2013: Rouhani elected president

In 2013, centrist and reformist Hassan Rouhani was elected president.

2013: Value of Setad state-owned enterprise

In 2013, the Setad, a state-owned enterprise under the Rahbar, was valued at $95 billion.

2013: Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

The men's national volleyball team won the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in 2013.

2014: ISIS Emergence and Iran's Economic Corridor in Iraq

Following Iraq's struggle against ISIS in 2014, companies linked to the IRGC, such as Khatam al-Anbiya, started building roads, power plants, hotels, and businesses in Iraq, creating an economic corridor.

2014: Maryam Mirzakhani Received Fields Medal

In 2014, Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman and Iranian to receive the Fields Medal, the highest prize in mathematics.

2014: Instability in Yemen

The instability in Yemen from 2014 onward allowed Iran to build strong alliances and footholds beyond its borders.

2015: Agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

In 2015, Iran and the P5+1 agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aiming to end economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on producing enriched uranium.

2015: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached

In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was reached in Vienna between Iran, the P5+1, and the EU.

2016: Literacy Rate

As of 2016, the literacy rate among people aged 15 and older in Iran was 86%, with men (90%) more literate than women (81%).

2016: Health Insurance Coverage

In 2016, approximately 90% of Iranians had health insurance.

2017: Raisi loses presidential bid

In 2017, Ebrahim Raisi lost a presidential bid.

2017: Iranian Protests

The 2017-18 Iranian protests swept across the country in response to the economic and political situation, leading to thousands of arrests.

2018: SCImago Study on Research Output

According to a 2012 study by SCImago, Iran would rank fourth in research output by 2018 if the trend persisted.

2018: Population Growth Rate

By 2018, Iran's population growth rate was approximately 1.39%.

2018: US withdraws from JCPOA

In 2018, the US under President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and new sanctions were imposed.

2018: US Withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

In 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action under the Trump administration and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

2019: Highest Proportion of Retracted Publications

According to a 2019 study, Iran recorded the highest proportion of retracted publications globally, with 15.52 retractions per 10,000 publications.

2019: Discovery of Southern Oil Field

In 2019, Iran discovered a southern oil field containing 50 billion barrels of oil.

2019: Museum Visits

In 2019, around 25 million people visited museums in Iran.

2019: Tourism Before COVID-19

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in Iran had been growing rapidly, reaching nearly 9 million foreign visitors, making it the world's third fastest-growing tourism destination.

2019: Fuel Price Hike and Internet Shutdown

In 2019, protests erupted across Iran after the government announced increases in fuel prices of up to 300%. A week-long total Internet shutdown marked one of the most severe Internet blackouts, accompanied by a governmental crackdown on protestors.

2019: Registration of Vank Cathedral

In 2019, the Iranian government registered the Vank Cathedral in Isfahan as a World Heritage Site.

January 2020: Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 Shootdown

On 8 January 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by the IRGC shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 occupants, and leading to protests.

2020: High-Speed Mobile Internet Usage

As of 2020, 70 million Iranians were using high-speed mobile internet.

2020: Iran Announces End to JCPOA Limits

By 2020, Iran announced that it would no longer observe any limit set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

2020: Assassination of Qasem Soleimani

In 2020, IRGC general Qasem Soleimani was assassinated by the US, heightening tensions.

January 2021: Social Media Platforms Blocked

Since January 2021, Iranian authorities have blocked a list of social media platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

2021: Raisi elected president

In 2021, Ebrahim Raisi was elected president, succeeding Rouhani.

2021: Iran and China sign 25-year cooperation agreement

In 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year cooperation agreement to strengthen relations between the two countries with "political, strategic and economic" components.

2021: Increase in Military Spending

In 2021, Iran's military spending increased for the first time in four years, reaching $24.6 billion, which was 2.3% of the national GDP. Funding for the IRGC accounted for 34% of the total military spending.

2021: Domestic Tourism Spending

In 2021, Iranian tourists spent $33 billion on domestic tourism.

August 2022: Launch of Khayyam Satellite

In August 2022, Russia launched the Iranian remote-sensing Khayyam satellite into orbit from Kazakhstan.

September 2022: Death of Mahsa Amini and Subsequent Protests

In September 2022, protests against the government began after Mahsa Amini died in police custody following her arrest by the Guidance Patrol. The UN described the government crackdown as crimes against humanity.

2022: UN Experts Urge Iran to Stop "Systematic Persecution" of Religious Minorities

In 2022, a group of UN experts urged Iran to stop the "systematic persecution" of religious minorities, citing the arrest, barring from universities, and home demolitions of members of the Baháʼí Faith.

2022: State Subsidies Amount

In 2022, state subsidies, including foodstuffs and especially petrol, totaled $100 billion for energy alone.

2022: Unemployment Rate in Iran

In 2022, the unemployment rate in Iran was 9%.

2022: Tourism's Share of the Economy

In 2022, tourism in Iran expanded its share to 5% of the economy.

February 2023: Population Growth

By February 2023, Iran's population had grown to about 85 million.

November 2023: Iran's Uranium Enrichment Status

As of November 2023, Iran had uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile content, which is close to weapon grade, leading some analysts to regard Iran as a de facto nuclear power.

November 2023: IRIAF finalizes arrangements to acquire Russian Aircraft and Systems

In November 2023, following Russia's purchase of Iranian drones during the invasion of Ukraine, the IRIAF finalized arrangements to acquire Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, air defense and missile systems.

2023: Iran Produced 4% of World's Crude Oil

As of 2023, Iran produced 4% of the world's crude oil, equivalent to 3.6 million barrels per day, generating US$36 billion in export revenue.

2023: Car Manufacturing Growth

In 2023, Iran built 1.188 million cars, showing a 12% increase from previous years.

2023: Tourism Growth

In 2023, Iran's tourism experienced a growth of 43%, attracting 6 million foreign tourists. The government ended visa requirements for 60 countries in 2023.

2023: Growth in Travellers from West Asian Countries

In the first seven months of 2023, the number of travellers visiting Iran from other West Asian countries grew by 31%.

2023: High Retraction Rates

Media reports from 2023 indicate that Iran continues to rank among the countries with the highest retraction rates due to misconduct like plagiarism and data fabrication.

2023: Weakening of allies

Since 2023, Iran's economic struggles and the weakening of its key allies and proxies have left the Iranian government weakened and isolated.

January 2024: Launch of Soraya Satellite and Indigenous Satellites

In January 2024, Iran launched the Soraya satellite into its highest orbit yet (750 km) using the Qaem 100 rocket, and also launched 3 indigenous satellites (Mahda, Kayan, and Hatef) into orbit.

February 2024: Launch of Pars 1 Satellite

In February 2024, Iran launched its domestically developed imaging satellite, Pars 1, from Russia into orbit.

April 2024: Israeli airstrike on Iranian consulate in Damascus

In April 2024, an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus killed an IRGC commander, leading to retaliatory missile strikes from Iran on Israel.

April 2024: Discovery of Giant Shale Oil Deposits

In April 2024, the NIOC discovered 10 giant shale oil deposits, totaling 2.6 billion barrels.

May 2024: Death of Raisi in helicopter crash

In May 2024, President Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash.

October 2024: Iran launches ballistic missiles at Israel

On 1 October 2024, Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for assassinations.

December 2024: Setback for Iran due to the fall of Assad regime in Syria

In December 2024, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a close ally of Iran, was a severe setback for Iran's political influence in the region.

2024: Iran's Economy in 2024

As of 2024, Iran has the world's 19th largest economy (by PPP), characterized by a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures.

2024: Energy crisis

As of 2024-2025, Iran suffers from an energy crisis manifested by many power outages.

2024: Iran's Electoral Democracy Ranking

In 2024, Iran was ranked 158th in electoral democracy according to V-Dem Democracy Indices and classified as an electoral autocracy.

2024: Iran Ranks 16th in Global Car Manufacturing

In 2024, Iran was ranked 16th in global car manufacturing, surpassing the UK, Italy, and Russia.

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

Iran was ranked 64th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.

January 2025: Men's National Volleyball Team Ranking

As of January 2025, the men's national volleyball team is the 2nd strongest in Asia and 15th in the FIVB World Rankings.

February 2025: Report on parallel systems in Iran

In February 2025, The New York Times reported the existence of two parallel systems in Iran: one ruled by the military and intelligence forces, and another ruled by diplomats and politicians.

April 2025: Men's National Football Team Ranking

As of April 2025, the men's national football team ranks 2nd in Asia and 18th in the FIFA World Rankings.

May 2025: Mass deportation of Afghan migrants and refugees

In May 2025, the Iranian government ordered the mass deportation of an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees living in Iran.

June 2025: Conflict between Israel and Iran

In June 2025, Israel launched strikes across Iran, resulting in retaliatory missile strikes and a brief direct conflict, followed by US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and an eventual ceasefire on June 24th.

2025: Energy crisis

As of 2024-2025, Iran suffers from an energy crisis manifested by many power outages.

2025: Afghan Migrants and Refugees

As of 2025, Iran was home to an estimated 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees.

2025: Escalation of Iran-Israel tensions

In 2025, Israeli strikes on Iran escalated tensions into the Iran-Israel war.

2025: Negotiations and new enrichment facility

In early 2025, Iran was rapidly advancing its nuclear program, entering negotiations with the US for a new nuclear agreement, and announcing the activation of a new enrichment facility in June.