UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Trump says U.S. will not ‘rush into a deal’ with Iran, blockade to remain
Q1. Which one of the following United States Navy numbered fleets is responsible for naval operations in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz?
- A. Third Fleet
- B. Fifth Fleet
- C. Sixth Fleet
- D. Seventh Fleet
Q2. With reference to the significance of the Strait of Hormuz in global crude oil trade, consider the following statements:
1. It carries roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption.
2. India is the second-largest destination for crude oil transiting the Strait.
3. China is the single largest destination for crude oil transiting the Strait.
4. The bulk of the oil leaving the Strait is destined for European markets.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It carries roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption.
- India is the second-largest destination for crude oil transiting the Strait.
- China is the single largest destination for crude oil transiting the Strait.
- The bulk of the oil leaving the Strait is destined for European markets.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. The 2026 United States naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas was declared and enforced under the authority of which one of the following US unified combatant commands?
- A. US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
- B. US Central Command (CENTCOM)
- C. US European Command (EUCOM)
- D. US Africa Command (AFRICOM)
Q4. In international law, a naval blockade has been recognised as constituting an act of war ever since which one of the following instruments/conferences first codified the concept?
- A. Declaration of Paris, 1856
- B. Hague Convention, 1907
- C. Declaration of London (London Naval Conference), 1909
- D. United Nations Charter, 1945
Q5. With reference to the events of the 2026 Iran–Israel–US conflict, consider the following statements:
1. Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026.
2. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes.
3. Iran halted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following the strikes.
4. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian was killed in the strikes.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes.
- Iran halted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following the strikes.
- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian was killed in the strikes.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q6. During the 2026 crisis the situation was described as a 'dual blockade'. Which one of the following most precisely describes what this term meant?
- A. A blockade of Iran jointly enforced by the United States and Israeli navies
- B. A situation in which the US Navy blockaded Iranian ports while Iran simultaneously blockaded shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
- C. A blockade covering both Iranian airspace and its territorial waters
- D. A blockade simultaneously imposed on Iran and its regional armed proxies
Q7. With reference to Iran's nuclear programme under the 2015 JCPOA compared with its status by 2025, consider the following statements:
1. The JCPOA capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67%, whereas by 2025 Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity.
2. The JCPOA limited Iran's enriched-uranium stockpile to 300 kg, whereas by May 2025 the IAEA reported Iran held over 400 kg of 60%-enriched uranium.
3. The JCPOA was negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 plus Germany and the EU, whereas the NPT is a bilateral treaty solely between Iran and the IAEA.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The JCPOA capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67%, whereas by 2025 Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity.
- The JCPOA limited Iran's enriched-uranium stockpile to 300 kg, whereas by May 2025 the IAEA reported Iran held over 400 kg of 60%-enriched uranium.
- The JCPOA was negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 plus Germany and the EU, whereas the NPT is a bilateral treaty solely between Iran and the IAEA.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. Which one of the following bodies is responsible for verifying and monitoring Iran's compliance with its safeguards obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
- A. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
- B. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- C. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
- D. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Q9. The memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran in June 2026 is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A legally binding peace treaty ratified by the US Senate and the Iranian Majlis
- B. A 60-day agreement ending hostilities while negotiators continued to discuss Iran's nuclear programme
- C. A UN Security Council resolution imposing a mandatory ceasefire
- D. A comprehensive nuclear accord permanently replacing the JCPOA
Q10. In the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026, the lifting of the United States naval blockade of Iran was listed as which point?
- A. The first point
- B. The fourth point
- C. The tenth point
- D. The fourteenth point
Q11. Under Phase I of its Strategic Petroleum Reserve programme managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), how many underground crude oil storage facilities does India currently operate?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q12. With reference to the maritime geography of West Asia, consider the following statements:
1. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, while the Gulf of Oman in turn opens into the Arabian Sea.
2. Iran forms the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz, whereas Oman's Musandam Peninsula forms its southern shore.
3. The Persian Gulf is bordered by eight countries, whereas the Gulf of Oman is bordered by Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the UAE.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, while the Gulf of Oman in turn opens into the Arabian Sea.
- Iran forms the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz, whereas Oman's Musandam Peninsula forms its southern shore.
- The Persian Gulf is bordered by eight countries, whereas the Gulf of Oman is bordered by Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the UAE.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3