UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Iran’s Parliament Speaker is floated as possible U.S. contact in talks amid war

Q1. In the 2026 US-Iran negotiations to end the war, the Iranian negotiating delegation was headed by the presiding officer of which one of the following Iranian institutions?

  • A. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis)
  • B. Guardian Council
  • C. Supreme National Security Council
  • D. Expediency Discernment Council

Q2. With reference to the Iranian delegation that participated in the 2026 US-Iran talks, consider the following: 1. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — Speaker of the Majlis 2. Abbas Araghchi — Foreign Minister 3. Central bank officials were part of the delegation 4. The delegation was led by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — Speaker of the Majlis
  2. Abbas Araghchi — Foreign Minister
  3. Central bank officials were part of the delegation
  4. The delegation was led by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the 2026 US-Iran negotiations, consider the following statements: 1. An April 2026 round of talks was held in Islamabad. 2. The US delegation at the Islamabad round was led by Vice President JD Vance. 3. The final peace deal signing was set in Switzerland. 4. The Iranian delegation was led solely by the Foreign Minister, without the Parliament Speaker. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. An April 2026 round of talks was held in Islamabad.
  2. The US delegation at the Islamabad round was led by Vice President JD Vance.
  3. The final peace deal signing was set in Switzerland.
  4. The Iranian delegation was led solely by the Foreign Minister, without the Parliament Speaker.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. The 'JCPOA', repeatedly invoked as the backdrop of the 2026 US-Iran negotiations, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 nuclear agreement from which the US withdrew in 2018
  • B. A 2012 Iran-EU sanctions-relief framework signed in Geneva
  • C. A 2009 IAEA-brokered uranium-swap arrangement
  • D. A 2020 ceasefire memorandum mediated by Oman

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the pre-war US-Iran contacts with the 2026 wartime negotiations: 1. The pre-war track proceeded as indirect, Oman-mediated rounds, whereas the 2026 Islamabad round involved direct US-Iran engagement. 2. The 2026 Iranian team was headed by the Parliament Speaker, in contrast to the earlier foreign-ministry-led indirect track. 3. The final 2026 peace agreement was signed in Oman, the same venue used for the pre-war talks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The pre-war track proceeded as indirect, Oman-mediated rounds, whereas the 2026 Islamabad round involved direct US-Iran engagement.
  2. The 2026 Iranian team was headed by the Parliament Speaker, in contrast to the earlier foreign-ministry-led indirect track.
  3. The final 2026 peace agreement was signed in Oman, the same venue used for the pre-war talks.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3