CHRONOLOGY: Iran's nuclear program

(Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it had begun the "industrial stage" of nuclear fuel production, in a fresh snub to the U.N. Security Council which has demanded Tehran halt such work.

Following are events since Iran's nuclear program first came to light.

August 2002 - Exiled opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran reports uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and heavy water plant at Arak.

June 2003 - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report says Iran failed to comply with nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by keeping its atomic program secret for 18 years.

December 2003 - Iran signs protocol allowing snap inspections of nuclear facilities.

February 2005 - President Mohammad Khatami says no Iranian government will give up nuclear technology program.

September 2 - IAEA report confirms Iran has resumed uranium conversion at Isfahan.

January 10, 2006 - Iran removes U.N. seals at Natanz enrichment plant and resumes nuclear fuel research.

February 4 - IAEA votes to report Iran to U.N. Security Council. Iran ends U.N. snap inspections the next day. Iran restarts small-scale uranium enrichment 10 days later.

March 8 - IAEA report to Security Council says it cannot verify Iran's atomic activities are peaceful.

April 11 - Iran says it has produced low-grade enriched uranium suitable for use in power stations; IAEA confirms this.

April 28 - IAEA report to the Security Council confirms Iran has flouted council demands to suspend enrichment.

July 31 - Security Council demands Iran suspend nuclear activities by August 31. Council makes first legally-binding demands in resolution and threatens sanctions.

August 31 - IAEA announces Iran has not met deadline to suspend program and has resumed enriching uranium.

September 26 - Russia and Iran agree start-up date of September 2007 for Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr.

November 14 - IAEA report says Iran has started experimental chain of 164 linked centrifuges, feeding uranium gas into them for enrichment.