1905
Albert Einstein developed a
theory about the relationship of
mass and energy. The formula,
E=mc[2], is clearly the most
famous outcome from Einstein's
special theory of relativity.
December 1938
Enrico Fermi became the first
physicist to split the atom. His
research pioneered the nuclear
age.
August 1939
Physicist Albert Einstein sends
a letter to U.S. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning
him that German researchers are
working on an atomic bomb.
Roosevelt forms a special
committee to consider the
military implications of atomic
research.
September 1942
The Manhattan Project was formed
to secretly build the atomic
bomb before the Germans. The
Army appointed General Leslie
Groves, the engineer responsible
for building the Pentagon, to
head the effort. At first, the
research took place at several
university laboratories.
December 1942
Enrico Fermi demonstrated the
first nuclear chain reaction in
a lab under the squash court at
the University of Chicago. In a
nuclear chain reaction, a
neutron splits one uranium atom
into two smaller atoms, which in
turn release energy and
neutrons; these neutrons split
other uranium atoms, releasing
more energy and neutrons.
July 1945
The United States exploded the
first atomic device at a site
near Alamogordo, New Mexico. At
5:30 am, July 16, 1945,
scientists from Los Alamos,
watching from observation
bunkers 10,000 yards away,
exploded an atomic device with a
plutonium core, releasing a
blast equivalent to 18,600 tons
of TNT.
August 1945
The United States drops atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Japan. On August 6, 1945, a B-29
bomber--the Enola Gay--released
a 9,700-pound uranium bomb,
nicknamed Little Boy, over the
city of Hiroshima in southern
Japan. On August 9, another B-29
bomber--Bock's Car--headed to
bomb Kokura Arsenal; however,
the pilot switched to his
secondary target, Nagasaki,
because of the weather over
Kokura. Nagasaki was the home of
a Mitsubishi torpedo
manufacturing plant. Bock's Car
dropped a 10,000-pound plutonium
bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, over
the slopes of Nagasaki. Fat Man
killed 40,000, injured 60,000,
and destroyed three square miles
of the city.
August 1949
The Soviet Union detonated its
first atomic device on August
29, 1949. The event surprised
American nuclear scientists--who
hadn't expected it so soon--and
shook the American public's
sense of security.
December 1949
The United States now has 200
A-bombs in its arsenal.
October 1952
England becomes the third
nuclear power when it tests an
Atomic bomb code named Hurricane
at Monte Bello Islands, West
Australia.
November 1952
The United States tests its
first hydrogen bomb on Elugelap
island. The bast was equal to
10.4 megatons, 700 times the
power of Little Boy.
January 1954
The first nuclear submarine,
U.S.S. Nautilus, was launched at
Groton, Connecticut on.
December 1958
Atlas
rocket developed using stainless
steel tank for liquid oxygen +
kerosene. The Atlas rocket would
become the first
Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile armed with nuclear
weapons.
Februray 1960
France joins the atomic club by
testing a device in the Sahara
desert, a plutonium implosion
bomb.
October 1961
The Soviet Union detonates a
nuclear device, estimated at 58
megatons, the equivalent of more
than 50 million tons of TNT, or
more than all the explosives
used during World War II. It
remains the largest nuclear
weapon the world had ever seen.
October 1962
The Soviet Union ships nuclear
missiles to Cuba. Upon discovery
of the missiles, the United
States demands they be removed.
For two weeks, the world is
thrust to the brink of nuclear
war, until Moscow agrees to
remove the missiles.
October 1964
The People's Republic of China
explodes its first nuclear bomb.
May 1974
India detonates its first
nuclear device, a 10-to-15
kiloton bomb, under the
Rajasthan desert.
April 1986
A meltdown and fire occur at the
Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in the
Soviet Ukraine. Massive
quantities of radioactive
materials are released,
affecting much of Europe.
March 1993
South Africa confirms in the
late 1980's it manufactured a
total of 6 nuclear bombs.
August 1995
The "Jason
report" proposes that nuclear
tests can be conducted on
computers without the need of
nuclear explosions.
October 1995
The U.S.
nuclear warhead stockpile totals
9000: 7000 in the continental
U.S.; 480 in Europe; 1500 with
submarines.
May 1998
India conducts five underground
nuclear tests. Pakistan responds
with its own series of nuclear
tests, several days later.
2002
August - The giant Russian nuclear submarine Kursk -- carrying a crew of
118 -- sank in the icy waters of the
Barents Sea after what Russian
officials described as a
"catastrophe that developed at
lightning speed." More than a week
later divers opened the rear hatch
of the sub but found no survivors.
May - Nuclear nations India and Pakistan became involved in a nuclear
stand off. The outbreak of war was largely prevented by the common knoweldge a
nuclear exchange would kill millions people on both sides. There is no way of
knowing how long the doctrine of mutual assured destruction (MAD) will maintain
the peace.
October- North Korea admits to having nuclear weapons.
September - Russia begins preparations for a reactor worth $800m near
Iran's south-western port of Bushehr. The plan at this stage is to have the
plant up and running by the end of 2003.
December - The US accuses Iran of seeking to develop a secret nuclear
weapons programme and publishes satellite images of two nuclear sites under
construction at Natanz and Arak.
2003
June - IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei states that inspections showed "Iran
failed to report certain nuclear
materials and activities" and urges
"co-operative actions" on the part
of Iran. However the report does not
declare Iran in breach of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. EU foreign
ministers call on Iran to allow
tougher nuclear inspections.
September - Washington says Iran is not complying with international
non-proliferation accords but agrees to support a proposal from Britain, France
and Germany to give the country until the end of October fully to disclose
nuclear activities and allow surprise inspections.
October - Russia says it has delayed plans to start up a nuclear reactor
in Iran by a year but stresses this is for technical reasons, not because of
external political pressure.
October - Pyongyang says it has reprocessed 8,000 nuclear fuel rods,
obtaining enough material to make up to six nuclear bombs.
November - Iran says it is suspending uranium enrichment and will allow
tougher UN inspections of its nuclear facilities.
2004
June - Third round of six-nation talks on nuclear program ends
inconclusively. North Korea pulls
out of scheduled September round.
2005
February - Pyongyang says it has built nuclear weapons for self-defense.
September - Fourth round of six-nation talks on nuclear program
concludes. North Korea agrees to give up its weapons in return for aid and
security guarantees. But it later demands a civilian nuclear reactor.
2006
February - The International Atomic Energy Agency votes to report Iran to
the U.N. Security Council over concerns that the country is trying to develop
nuclear weapons.
Feburary - Iran warns it may reconsider nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
membership.
March - The IAEA discusses Iran's nuclear program. Iran threatens U.S.
with "harm and pain" for its role in bringing the country before the U.N.
Security Council.
March - Russia's foreign minister firmly rejects a draft U.N. Security
Council statement aimed at pressuring Iran to stop enriching uranium, despite a
new offer of amendments by Western powers.
April - U.S. intelligence experts believe Iran would respond to U.S.
military strikes on its nuclear sites by deploying its intelligence operatives
and Hezbollah teams to carry out terrorist attacks worldwide, the Washington
Post reports.
April - Ahmadinejad again lashes out at Israel, saying it was "heading
toward annihilation."
July - North Korea test-fires a long-range missile, and some medium-range
ones, to an international outcry. Despite reportedly having the capability to
hit the US, the long-range Taepodong-2 crashes shortly after take-off, US
officials say.
October - North Korea claims to test a nuclear weapon for the first time.
2007
January - Iran says the U.N. sanctions will not halt its uranium
enrichment.
February - Six-nation talks on nuclear program resume in Beijing. North
Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aid.
April - Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki says Iran won't accept any
suspension of its uranium-enrichment activities and urges world powers to
accept the "new reality" of the Islamic republic's nuclear program.
May - The International Atomic Energy Agency says that Iran continues to
defy UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment and has in fact
expanded such work. The IAEA adds that the UN nuclear agency's ability to
monitor nuclear activities in Iran has declined due to lack of access to sites.
IAEA Director-General Muhammad el-Baradei estimates Iran could build a nuclear
weapon within "three to eight years".
June - International inspectors visit the Yongbyon nuclear complex for
the first time since being kicked out of the country in 2002.
2008
August -"If Israeli, U.S., or European intelligence gets proof
that Iran has succeeded in
developing nuclear weapons
technology, then Israel will respond
in a manner reflecting the
existential threat posed by such a
weapon," said Israeli Deputy Prime
Minister Shaul Mofaz, speaking at a
policy forum in Washington last
week. (AP)
December - The generals in charge of the military
operations in India and Pakistan had
an "unscheduled" conversation over
the Cold-war style hotline that was
set up to help avoid an accidental
nuclear war. There has been an
increase in tension between the two
countries since the November terror
attacks on India.
2009
Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant
(Iran)
Fordow, near the city of
Qom,
is the site of an underground
uranium enrichment facility at a
former
Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps base.
Existence of the
then-unfinished Fordow Fuel
Enrichment Plant (FFEP) was
disclosed to the IAEA by Iran on
September 21, 2009, but only
after the site became known to
Western intelligence services.
Western officials strongly condemned
Iran for not disclosing the site
earlier; although some reports claim
that the site was.under U.S.
surveillance.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
(Iran)
In March 2009, the head of Russia’s
state nuclear power corporation
Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, announced
that Russia had completed the
construction of the plant. A series
of pre-launch tests were conducted
after the announcement. On
September 22, 2009, it was
reported that the first reactor was
96% complete and final testing would
begin in the near future. In early
October final testing was started.
Saudi Arabia to Build Its
First Nuclear Power Plant
Israeli defense
officials said that Riyadh’s
interest in nuclear power is
connected to Iran's nuclear program,
according to the Jerusalem Post on
September 21, 2009.
UN Security Council Resolution
The
Resolution 1887, was passed by, the
UN Security Council on September 25,
2009 during the first-ever session
chaired by a U.S. president.
The resolution says that its main
aim is, eventually, “to create the
conditions for a world without
nuclear weapons.”
Iran Rejects
UN-Brokered Deal
Iran said, “No
thanks,” on November 18, 2009 to an
offer that would have
resulted in the shipment of about
70% of its low-enriched uranium
stockpile to Russia and France, and
delayed Iran's ability to fuel a
nuclear weapon by about a year. Iran
has counter-offered, saying it would
consider other options in regard to
its uranium, as long as the supply
remained in the country. Reported by
CBN, and the majority of news
agencies.
2010
2010: The Year of the Bushehr
On January 10, Iran
announced to the public that the
Bushher reactor would be opening in
the near-future, declaring 2010 the
“year of Bushehr” On August 13, 2010
Russia announced that fuel would be
loaded into the plant beginning on
August 21, which would mark the
beginning of the plant being
considered an active nuclear
facility. Within six months after
the fuel loading, the plant was
planned to be fully operational.An
official launch ceremony was held on
August
21, 2010 as Iran began
loading the plant with fuel.
Underestimating Iran’s Intentions
(January 2010)
Although they have opposed the
project in the past, Western
governments now stress that they
have no objection to the
demonstrably peaceful aspects of
Iran's nuclear program such as
Bushehr, according to the BBC.
Spokesman of the United States
Department of State, Darby Holladay,
stated that the United States
believes the reactor is designed to
produce civilian nuclear power and
does not view it as a proliferation
risk.
Iran Gets More Boisterous
On
November 27,
2010 the head of the Atomic
Energy Organization of Iran declared
that “All fuel assemblies have been
loaded into the core of the reactor”
and they were hoping that the
facility “will hook up with the
national grid in one or two
months.”The plant is to be operated
by Russian specialists. Russia also
provides the nuclear fuel for the
plant, and spent fuel is sent back
to Russia. The Bushehr plant will
satisfy about 2% of Iran's projected
electricity consumption.
Islamists Rejoice over Iran’s
Nuclear Advancements
(November 2010)
The former head of
Pakistan’s Inter-Services
Intelligence hailed Iran’s launch as
a positive move in the Muslim world,
and he also said that an anti-Iran
campaigns by the US and Israel stems
from Iran’s Islamic status. “Bushehr
Nuclear Power Plant is a victory for
Iran and indicates that Iranians do
their best to achieve their peaceful
objectives but the US and Israel are
not ready to accept this
achievement.”
2011
Bushehr Nucleat Power Plant Almost at Full Capacity
Director Fereydoun Abbasi announced
on February 15, 2011 that the
Bushehr nuclear power plant had
reached 75 percent of its power
generation capacity. Abbasi was
quoted “that hopefully the Bushehr
plant will be connected to the
national grid at its full capacity
in late April.”
North Korea Third Nuke Test
On February, 21 2011 Reuters
reported that N. Korea is digging at
the site where it has launched two
nuclear tests. This undertaking
suggests N. Korea
is preparing a third test,
the South’s Yonhap news agency said.
Tensions rose on the divided
peninsula when 46 sailors were
killed in an attack in March on a
South Korean naval vessel. North
Korea, which has denied
responsibility, shelled the southern
island of Yeonpyeong in November,
killing four people and sparking
fears of possible all-out war.
Syria WMDs
On May 24, 2011, IAEA Director
General Amano released a report
which assessed that the
facility destroyed (bombed)
by Israel unilaterallyon September
6, 2007, which it believed had
hosted a nuclear reactor under
construction was indeed a
nuclear reactor.U.S.
intelligence officials claimed low
confidence that the site was meant
for weapons development. Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad has said
the site in discussion was just “a
military site under construction.”
Iran Testing Missiles to Carry Nuclear Weapons
On June 29, 2011
CNN
reported that Iran has been carrying
out covert tests of missiles capable
of delivering a nuclear payload, UK
Foreign Secretary William Hague said
Wednesday, in contravention of a
U.N. resolution.It has also said it
wants to enrich uranium to “levels
far greater than is needed for
peaceful nuclear energy,” Hague
said.Iran’s development of missile
and nuclear fuel technology has led
to U.N. sanctions and accusations
from the United States that the
clerical regime is trying to develop
nuclear weapons.
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant at
Full
Capacity
On August 30, 2011 at 18:47 local time the power unit 1 was brought to
100 percent of its power generation
capacity.
Fordow Facilty Moves to Clandestine
Location
In September 2011, Iran said it
would move its production of 20% LEU
to Fordow from Natanz. Enrichment
started in December 2011. According
to the Institute for Science and
International Security two possible
locations of the facility are
suspected.
Official Launch of Bushehr Nuckear Facility
The plant started adding electricity to the national
grid on
September 3,
2011, and the official
inauguration was held on 12
September. By the inauguration time
the plant operated at 40% capacity,
while the full projected capacity of
the first unit is 1,000 megawatts.
Under the terms of Russia–Iran
agreement, approved by the
International Atomic Energy Agency,
Russia will be responsible
for operating the plant, supplying
the nuclear fuel and managing the
spent fuel for the next two or three
years before passing full control to
Iran.
Explosion Near Tehran
In late November 2011 top Israeli
security official said that a recent
explosion that rocked an Iranian
missile base near Tehran could delay
or stop further Iranian
surface-to-surface missile
development. Earlier this month,
Iran reiterated that the explosion
at a military base near Tehran that
killed at least 17 members of the
Revolutionary Guards was an
accident.
North Korea Supplying Syria,
Iran
Prohibited
Nuclear Technology is being supplied
by North Korea to Syria and Iran
reported the German newspaper
Die Welt reports on November
28, 2011 that Pyongyang has provided
the countries with “maraging steel,”
used to upgrade missiles and
centrifuges. It has been known for years that Iran is trying to obtain the
steel through its clandestine
purchasing networks around the
world. The steel would enable Tehran
to construct modified centrifuges,
which would in turn allow it to
enrich higher quality Uranium at a
faster speed.
“Maraging Steel” Supplied by North Korea to Syria
According to the November 28 report
by the German newspaper, Die Welt
the delivery of the steel is to be
used for upgrading Syrian scud
missiles. Syria is building a new
missile factory near Homs. According
to other reports, the factory is
partly funded by Iran, and is
expected to become operational
within 18 months. Maraging steel
would significantly upgrade Syria’s
Scud missile capabilities and the
amount of damage their warheads
could inflict.
Syria Supplying Hezbollah with Missiles
The German newspaper, Die Welt
cited unnamed “Western security
sources,” also reported that Syria
is trying to supply Hezbollah with
M-600 missiles that have a range of
up to 300 kilometers. These would be
equipped with warheads that were
upgraded using maraging steel.
Several UN resolutions forbid North
Korea from exporting weapons or
weapons technology.
Footage of WMD Stockpiles
Uncovered in Libya
On December 14, 2011 MEMRI
(Middle East Media Research
Institute) brought forth an
insightful video out of the Arab
world. New footage has emerged out
of Libya featuring stockpiles of
weapons of mass destruction.
Stockpiles of mustard gas, nerve
gas, as well as plant for their
production” in the Al-Rawagha and
Sokna regions. New depositories
containing internationally
prohibited gases were found near the
city of Sokna.
2012
Syria WMDs
On July 23, 2012 Syria admitted to manufacturing and possessing a
stockpile of chemical weapons which
it claims are reserved for national
defense against foreign countries.
Western non-governmental
organizations have stated they
believe Syria has an active chemical
weapons program. Syria is one of
seven non-signatories to the
Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993,
though it denied that it had
chemical weapons until admitting it
possessed such weapons in 2012.
Iran Uranium Enrichment Capacity Surging
McClatchy-Tribune reported on
August 24, 2012
that Iran has significantly expanded
its uranium enrichment capability at its Fordow facility,
according to U.S. officials and
others briefed on the finding. The
move could shorten the time Tehran
would need to build a
nuclear weapon.
Iran Close to Building A-bomb Like Never
Before
On August 30, 2012 UN inspectors
reported that Iran had taken new
efforts to produce enriched uranium.
Iran doubled the number of
centrifuges to enrich uranium at
Ford underground complex, officials
said. In the quarterly report, the
IAEA said that Iran had 2,140
centrifuges, and since 2010 Iran had
produced nearly 190 kilograms of
highly enriched uranium.
Back in May 2012, the head of the
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani said that
Iran would continue to enrich
uranium in the quantities sufficient
for the Islamic Republic, despite
the protests of the international
mediators. It appears that the pace
of this work has increased. It was
particularly reported that IAEA
experts discovered uranium enriched
to 27 percent at one of Iran's
nuclear facilities, which
contradicted to Iran's official
promises not to overcome the
enrichment limit of 20 percent.
In July of 2012, according to
Interfax, Ayatollah Khamenei
said that the level of enrichment of
uranium for nuclear reactors would
reach 56 percent if the
international community continued to
put pressure on Iran.
August
2012 data from the IAEA and
Israeli military intelligence
strongly suggest that Iran, to all
appearance, possesses the amount of
uranium to make a nuclear bomb.
Apparently, this quantity, as well
as quality, will grow. Most likely,
the country is right now on the
verge of developing nuclear weapons.
