Historical Organization
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Details
Organization Timeline
Russia contracts to complete Iran’s Bushehr reactor
📅 8 January 1995Russian and Iranian nuclear organizations signed a contract to complete Bushehr’s first reactor unit. The project became a major channel of civilian nuclear cooperation; signing the contract did not...
Bushehr nuclear fuel agreement signed
📅 27 February 2005Iran and Russia signed a nuclear fuel agreement at Bushehr, advancing the Russian-assisted reactor project despite US objections.
First Russian fuel shipment arrives for Bushehr
📅 16 December 2007Deliveries of Russian nuclear fuel for Bushehr began, turning the earlier supply arrangement into a concrete step toward operating Iran’s first nuclear power reactor.
Final shipment completes initial Bushehr fuel delivery
📅 28 January 2008Iran received the final Russian shipment in the initial Bushehr fuel series, completing a supply milestone before reactor commissioning.
Bushehr pre-commissioning tests demonstrate progress
📅 25 February 2009Iranian and Russian officials oversaw pre-commissioning tests at Bushehr, a visible step toward bringing Iran’s Russian-assisted nuclear power plant into operation.
Russian fuel loading process begins at Bushehr
📅 21 August 2010The process of loading Russian fuel at Bushehr began under IAEA supervision, advancing Iran’s first nuclear power reactor toward operation.
Bushehr holds a commissioning ceremony after Russian-assisted construction
📅 12 September 2011Bushehr’s commissioning ceremony marked a major stage in Russian-assisted nuclear construction in Iran. The milestone followed years of work and delays; it should be distinguished from initial grid...
Russian constructor reports Bushehr at full power
📅 31 August 2012A report citing Russian constructor AtomStroyExport announced that Bushehr had reached full power, marking another stage in Iran’s civilian nuclear project.
Bushehr handover to Iran begins
📅 23 September 2013A ceremony marked the start of the handover of the Russian-built Bushehr plant to Iran, beginning an acceptance process rather than ending every Russian responsibility.
Iran and Russia sign nuclear expansion agreements
📅 11 November 2014Iran and Russia signed nuclear construction agreements in Moscow, including a contract for two additional Bushehr units and a wider framework envisaging further reactors.
Bushehr expansion begins with groundbreaking ceremony
📅 10 September 2016Iran and Russia held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Bushehr II nuclear expansion, advancing the two additional reactor units contracted in 2014.
First concrete is poured for Russian-assisted Bushehr unit 2
📅 10 November 2019Iran began pouring first concrete for Bushehr unit 2 in cooperation with Russia, moving the nuclear expansion beyond the earlier groundbreaking ceremony.
Israel opens the 12-day war with strikes across Iran
📅 13 June 2025Israel launched a surprise military campaign against Iran, striking military leadership, air defences, missile facilities and nuclear-related sites, including Natanz. Senior commanders and nuclear...
IAEA reports attack on Natanz and no off-site radiation rise
📅 13 June 2025The IAEA confirmed that Natanz, a safeguarded enrichment facility, had been attacked. At the time of its update it reported no increase in off-site radiation. The Agency warned that attacks on nuclear...
Iranian nuclear chief arrives in Moscow for talks
📅 22 September 2025Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s vice-president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization, arrived in Moscow for discussions as the UN sanctions dispute intensified. The report establishes the visit but did...
Rosatom and Iran sign a memorandum on small nuclear plants
📅 24 September 2025Rosatom and Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to build small nuclear power plants in Iran. The memorandum set a cooperation pathway; it was not...
Israeli strikes hit uranium-processing and heavy-water facilities
📅 27 March 2026Israel confirmed striking a uranium-processing plant near Yazd. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said there were no casualties or radiation leaks. Reports also described strikes on the Khondab...