CHRONOLOGY-Iran's nuclear program

(Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday Iran had failed to meet a February 21 deadline to suspend uranium enrichment.

Following are events since Iran's nuclear program, which it says is purely peaceful, first came to light:

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

June 2003 - IAEA report, after February inspection of Natanz and Arak, says Iran has failed to comply with nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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 snap U.N. nuclear inspections the next day. Ten days later Iran restarts small-scale feeding of uranium gas into centrifuges at Natanz after 2-1/2-year suspension.

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

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

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

July 31 - Security Council demands Iran suspend its nuclear activities by August 31. In a resolution, council for first time makes legally binding demands on Iran and threat of sanctions.

August 31 - IAEA announces Iran has not met deadline to suspend its 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 - A confidential IAEA report says Iran is pushing ahead with uranium enrichment and still stonewalling investigations by the agency despite the risk of sanctions.