TEHRAN, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Here are the main events since six world powers submitted a new offer to Iran in June in a bid to persuade it to suspend uranium enrichment.

Western governments fear Iran is seeking to develop an atomic bomb but Tehran insists its nuclear programme is aimed solely at producing energy.

- 14: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana hands Iran an offer from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Under the proposal, Iran would gain access to nuclear fuel to produce energy in exchange for giving up efforts to produce it by its own means.

- 23: EU nations agree to impose new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme, notably banning the country's Bank Melli from operating in Europe.

- 8: Iran would 'set fire' to Israel and the US navy in the Gulf as its first response to any American attack over its nuclear programme, an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shirazi, warns.

- 19: Solana holds high-level talks with Iran in Geneva, noting there has been 'insufficient' progress in attempts to persuade Iran to give up its efforts to master the nuclear fuel cycle. Washington says the powers have given Tehran two weeks to respond to their offer.

- 26: Iran now has between 5,000 and 6,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says, confirming that the country has expanded its contested nuclear work.

- 28: In a US TV interview, Ahmadinejad once again denies that his country is seeking nuclear weapons.

- 5: Iran promises in a letter to respond to the six-country offer, but seeks clarifications.

- 6: The six countries mull new sanctions against Iran due to what they see as its weak response.