UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Is the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement falling apart?

Q1. In the context of the 2026 US-Iran 'Islamabad Memorandum', the '60-day window' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The period within which Iran committed to complete de-mining of the Strait of Hormuz
  • B. The window for negotiating a final settlement covering Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz
  • C. The maximum period for which the US naval blockade of Iranian ports could remain in force
  • D. The validity period of the US Treasury waiver permitting Iranian crude-oil exports

Q2. Under the 2026 Islamabad Memorandum, which one of the following was the single largest economic commitment associated with the United States?

  • A. The unfreezing of restricted Iranian assets held abroad
  • B. A reconstruction and economic-development plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion
  • C. The issuance of US Treasury waivers permitting Iranian crude-oil exports
  • D. The lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports

Q3. By volume of oil moved, which one of the following is the world's single most important oil transit chokepoint?

  • A. Strait of Malacca
  • B. Suez Canal
  • C. Strait of Hormuz
  • D. Bab-el-Mandeb

Q4. At its narrowest point, approximately how wide is the Strait of Hormuz?

  • A. About 5 miles (8 km)
  • B. About 21 miles (33 km)
  • C. About 50 miles (80 km)
  • D. About 95 miles (155 km)

Q5. The July 2026 retaliatory US military strikes on Iranian coastal and port targets were carried out by which US combatant command?

  • A. US Indo-Pacific Command
  • B. US European Command
  • C. US Africa Command
  • D. US Central Command

Q6. During the July 2026 breakdown, Iran's foreign ministry alleged that the US strikes and sanctions reimposition amounted to a gross violation of which specific provision of the Islamabad Memorandum?

  • A. Article 5
  • B. Article 10
  • C. The Preamble
  • D. Article 14

Q7. Under the 2026 Islamabad Memorandum, the United States undertook several economic commitments towards Iran. Consider the following as stated US commitments: 1. Issue US Treasury waivers permitting exports of Iranian crude oil 2. Make available frozen or restricted Iranian assets 3. Back a reconstruction and development plan worth at least $300 billion 4. Transfer civilian nuclear-reactor technology to Iran Which of the above is/are NOT a correctly identified US commitment?

  1. Issue US Treasury waivers permitting exports of Iranian crude oil
  2. Make available frozen or restricted Iranian assets
  3. Back a reconstruction and development plan worth at least $300 billion
  4. Transfer civilian nuclear-reactor technology to Iran
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q8. The mid-2026 revocation of the license that had temporarily allowed Iran to produce and sell crude oil was announced by which US authority?

  • A. US Department of State
  • B. US Department of Commerce
  • C. US Treasury Department
  • D. US Central Command

Q9. In the context of India's energy security, the term 'Strategic Petroleum Reserve' maintained through ISPRL most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Government-owned emergency crude-oil stockpiles held in underground caverns at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur to cushion supply disruptions
  • B. Refined petrol and diesel buffer stocks kept by oil marketing companies for retail sale
  • C. India's overseas oil and gas equity assets acquired by public-sector firms abroad
  • D. Subsidised fuel stocks distributed through the public distribution system

Q10. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear programme was endorsed by which UN Security Council resolution?

  • A. Resolution 1747 (2007)
  • B. Resolution 1929 (2010)
  • C. Resolution 2231 (2015)
  • D. Resolution 2216 (2015)

Q11. Consider the following persons and their roles in the 2026 US-Iran episode: 1. Masoud Pezeshkian — President of Iran 2. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf — Iran's Parliament Speaker and lead negotiator with the US 3. Donald Trump — President of the United States 4. Badr al-Busaidi — President of Oman Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Masoud Pezeshkian — President of Iran
  2. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf — Iran's Parliament Speaker and lead negotiator with the US
  3. Donald Trump — President of the United States
  4. Badr al-Busaidi — President of Oman
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q12. In the proposed post-MoU arrangement for administering the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's engagement was led principally by which Omani institution?

  • A. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • B. Royal Navy of Oman
  • C. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology
  • D. Ministry of Energy and Minerals