UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Obama says Trump-Tehran deal will not improve on his 2015 pact

Q1. In September 2025, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution (proposed by China and the Russian Federation) to extend sanctions relief to Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). How many Council members voted AGAINST the draft, leading to its rejection?

  • A. 7
  • B. 9
  • C. 11
  • D. 13

Q2. With reference to the 2013 Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) and the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear programme, consider the following statements: 1. Both the JPOA and the JCPOA were negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries. 2. Only the JCPOA was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution, whereas the JPOA was an interim arrangement not endorsed by the UNSC. 3. Unlike the JPOA, the JCPOA was the first agreement to assign any monitoring role to the International Atomic Energy Agency over Iran's nuclear activities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both the JPOA and the JCPOA were negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.
  2. Only the JCPOA was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution, whereas the JPOA was an interim arrangement not endorsed by the UNSC.
  3. Unlike the JPOA, the JCPOA was the first agreement to assign any monitoring role to the International Atomic Energy Agency over Iran's nuclear activities.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which one of the following is the designated international body responsible for verifying Iran's compliance with its nuclear-related commitments?

  • A. UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
  • B. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
  • C. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • D. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Q4. Which one of the following is the principal mechanism built into UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) that is designed to automatically reimpose previously lifted UN sanctions on Iran in the event of its significant non-performance under the JCPOA?

  • A. Sunset clause
  • B. Additional Protocol
  • C. Snapback mechanism
  • D. Joint Commission dispute-resolution procedure

Q5. With reference to the original parties to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), consider the following countries: 1. Germany 2. Japan 3. India 4. China Which of the above is/are correctly identified as members of the 'P5+1' group that concluded the JCPOA with Iran?

  1. Germany
  2. Japan
  3. India
  4. China
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only