Appendix A

Timeline for Selected Activities of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (1999-2016)

1999—Regional Workshop in Moscow on Ecology of Caspian Sea under auspices of Russian Academy of Sciences, with American and Iranian scientists participating.

1999—Exploratory National Academies staff visit to Iran.

2000—Officers of Iran Academies of Science and Medicine visit Washington under auspices of Federation of American Scientists.

2001—Presidents and officers of U.S. National Academies of Sciences and Engineering and Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine), including Nobel Laureate Sherwood Rowland, travel to Iran and reach agreement with presidents of Iran Academies of Science and Medicine on topics and modes for engagement.

2001—Following 9/11, U.S. government officials stop work on developing a general Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license that would facilitate people-to-people exchanges with Iran.

2002—First four U.S.-Iran workshops held in Iran (2), Italy, and Tunisia.

2002—Beginning of long-term collaborative program on earthquake science and engineering.

2003—Bam earthquake: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine develop follow-on program.

2003—First of five workshops held in Tourtour, France, over 12 years, with support of Fondation des Treilles.

2003—Beginning of cooperative pilot project on foodborne diseases that continued for four years.

2004—Beginning of program of individual exchanges in both directions.

2005—Iran Academy of Sciences presents medal to President of National Academy of Engineering for support of bilateral program.

2006—Department of State initiates International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) for Iran, with participation of National Academies beginning in 2007.

2006—OFAC issues general license for publishing activities pursuant to request from Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

2006—Visit to National Academies by former president of Iran Khatami.

2007—OFAC confirms appropriateness of the National Academies’ approach with regard to licenses.

2007—Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor visits Tehran.

2007—The National Academies decides not to seek or accept government funds for engagement program due to linkages of funds with democracy-building activities.

2008—President of Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine) visits Tehran.

2008—National Academies staff member detained in Tehran for nine hours.

2008—Nobel Laureates Thomas Schelling and Burton Richter independently visit Tehran.

2009—Department of State suspends all people-to-people science programs following turmoil in Iran associated with election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term.

2009—Department of State encourages the National Academies to restart exchange program as pilot effort that was subsequently emulated by several other U.S. organizations.

2010—Report published by the National Academies Press on U.S.-Iran Cooperation 2000-2009.

2012—Nobel Laureate Peter Agre visits Iran.

2012—OFAC issues general license for cooperation that addresses either wildlife or environmental conservation.

2012—U.S. consulate in Dubai tightens controls on IVLP by requiring two visits by Iranian participants to Dubai to apply for and obtain U.S. visas.

2012—Meeting between National Academies staff and Iranian Foreign Minister in New York.

2013—Meeting between National Academies staff and Iranian Foreign Minister in New York.

2014—University of Tehran publishes Farsi translation of National Academies Press publication on program of the National Academies for cooperation with Iranian institutions.

2014—The National Academies accept government funding for one exchange.

2014—In response to request from Foreign Minister of Iran, the National Academies initiate a project to assess impacts of increasing salinity on conditions in and around Lake Urmia.

2015—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with civil nuclear science cooperation Annex, signed.

2015—Iran begins to organize historical seismic data for posting on Internet.

2015—Meeting between National Academies staff and Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology in New York.

2016—Department of State stops endorsement of visits by Americans to Iran due to concerns over arrests of Iranian-Americans in Iran.

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