UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Iran, U.S. in tentative ceasefire deal; awaits Trump’s approval’
Q1. Among the world's maritime oil-transit chokepoints, which one alone carries roughly a quarter of all globally traded seaborne oil, making it the single most critical energy chokepoint?
- A. Strait of Malacca
- B. Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- C. Strait of Hormuz
- D. Bosporus (Turkish Straits)
Q2. The strategic crude-oil reserves that India maintains to cushion disruptions to supplies transiting the Strait of Hormuz are built and operated by which one of the following entities?
- A. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL)
- B. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
- C. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL)
- D. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
Q3. Which one of the following events marked the very outbreak of the 2026 Iran war, chronologically preceding every other listed milestone?
- A. The direct US–Iran talks held at Islamabad on 11–12 April 2026
- B. The US–Israel opening strikes on Iran of 28 February 2026 (Operation Epic Fury)
- C. The first US–Iran ceasefire of 7–8 April 2026
- D. The signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on 17 June 2026
Q4. The June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding that sought to formally end the 2026 Iran war was brokered, and its finalisation announced, by the head of government of which country, which alone hosted the direct US–Iran talks that preceded it?
- A. Oman
- B. Qatar
- C. Pakistan
- D. Switzerland
Q5. In the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on 17 June 2026, what does the stipulated '60-day' period specifically denote?
- A. The window within which the US and Iran were to negotiate a final agreement on Iran's unresolved nuclear programme
- B. The period within which Iran had to clear all mines it had laid in the Strait of Hormuz
- C. The duration for which US oil sanctions on Iran were to be permanently lifted
- D. The fixed term of office granted to the Pakistani mediation team
Q6. On the Iranian side, the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding of 17 June 2026 was signed by which one of the following, acting as Iran's Head of State?
- A. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
- B. President Masoud Pezeshkian
- C. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
- D. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Q7. With reference to Iran's nuclear programme and its treaty obligations, consider the following statements:
1. Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
2. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was capped at 300 kg.
3. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran's uranium enrichment level was capped at 3.67% U-235.
4. Under the NPT, Iran is recognised as a nuclear-weapon State.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
- Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was capped at 300 kg.
- Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran's uranium enrichment level was capped at 3.67% U-235.
- Under the NPT, Iran is recognised as a nuclear-weapon State.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q8. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the framework that placed verified limits on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, was concluded in which year?
- A. 2006
- B. 2013
- C. 2015
- D. 2018
Q9. The pre-existing US embargo on the import of Iranian petroleum products was significantly widened by which one of the following United States statutes enacted in 1996?
- A. Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act
- B. Iran and Libya Sanctions Act
- C. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act
- D. National Defense Authorization Act (Iran oil provisions)
Q10. With reference to the history of sanctions on Iran, consider the following statements:
1. The first US boycott of Iranian oil purchases and freeze of Iranian assets followed the 1979–81 Tehran embassy hostage crisis.
2. The Iran and Libya Sanctions Act, which widened the embargo on Iranian petroleum imports, was enacted in 1996.
3. The UN Security Council imposed its first round of nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in 2006.
4. The 2015 JCPOA permanently and irreversibly terminated all UN sanctions on Iran.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The first US boycott of Iranian oil purchases and freeze of Iranian assets followed the 1979–81 Tehran embassy hostage crisis.
- The Iran and Libya Sanctions Act, which widened the embargo on Iranian petroleum imports, was enacted in 1996.
- The UN Security Council imposed its first round of nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in 2006.
- The 2015 JCPOA permanently and irreversibly terminated all UN sanctions on Iran.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q11. India's strategic petroleum reserves are designed to provide emergency import cover for approximately how many days of supply during a disruption?
- A. About 9–10 days
- B. About 30 days
- C. About 74 days
- D. About 90 days
Q12. With reference to the security dimension of the 2026 Iran war and the US command overseeing it, consider the following statements:
1. During the 2026 Iran war, Iranian retaliatory strikes hit US installations across several Gulf states, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.
2. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which directed US operations in the 2026 Iran conflict, was the same combatant command that had earlier overseen the 1991 Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm).
3. Operation Epic Fury (2026) targeted Iran, exactly as Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) had also targeted Iran.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- During the 2026 Iran war, Iranian retaliatory strikes hit US installations across several Gulf states, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.
- US Central Command (CENTCOM), which directed US operations in the 2026 Iran conflict, was the same combatant command that had earlier overseen the 1991 Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm).
- Operation Epic Fury (2026) targeted Iran, exactly as Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) had also targeted Iran.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3