CHRONOLOGY-Iran's nuclear program

(Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved on Saturday new arms and financial sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.

Following are events since Iran's nuclear program first came to light. Iran says the program is purely peaceful but the West fears it is aimed at producing nuclear weapons.

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 still enriching uranium and stalling investigations despite risk of sanctions. Report says Iran has started experimental chain of 164 linked centrifuges, feeding uranium gas into them for enrichment.