News & Analysis thehindu.com

Iran says hasn’t reached a final decision on deal with U.S.

12 June 2026 Source

Exam Summary

The article reports that Iran has not yet reached a final decision on a deal with the United States, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of an imminent "great settlement" to end a 'war'. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, stated that no final conclusion had been reached, and the Tasnim news agency cautioned against Trump's repeated claims of an impending deal.

GS Paper 2: International Relations - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

UPSC concepts in this story

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Iran-U.S. Diplomatic Engagements

The article highlights ongoing, often contentious, diplomatic efforts between Iran and the U.S. to resolve disputes, reflecting the long-standing complexitie...

International Relations 5 PYQs 1 developments

Exam Themes

Prelims Takeaways

  • Awareness of ongoing diplomatic efforts between major global powers like the US and Iran.
  • Understanding the complexities and challenges in international negotiations and conflict resolution.
  • Knowledge of key figures and their statements in significant geopolitical events.

Elimination Traps

  • Assuming a deal is finalized based on one party's announcement.
  • Misinterpreting the nature of the 'war' mentioned (likely referring to heightened tensions/proxy conflicts).
  • Focusing on the specific date mentioned rather than the broader geopolitical context.

Static Concepts

  • Diplomacy
  • International negotiations
  • Foreign policy

Probable Question Areas

Question areas
  • Questions related to US-Iran relations and their historical context.
Question areas
  • Questions on the role of diplomacy in resolving international disputes.
Question areas
  • Questions on the foreign policy stances of major countries.
Conceptual Recurrence

Related Prelims PYQs

Ranked by topic match, theme match, recency, and recurring UPSC patterns.

UPSC Prelims 2016 International Relations

Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A. 1 only
  2. B. 2 only
  3. C. Both 1 and 2
  4. D. Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only

Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.

International Relations Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2024 International Relations

Who of the following is the author of the books "The India Way" and "Why Bharat Matters"?

  1. A. Bhupender Yadav
  2. B. Nalin Mehta
  3. C. Shashi Tharoor
  4. D. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

* Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is an Indian diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of India since 2019. He has authored two prominent books: * 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) which provides insights into India's foreign policy approach. * 'Why Bharat Matters' is a compilation of his articles and speeches that delve into India's global significance.

International Relations Current Affairs Art & Culture Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. A. Only one
  2. B. Only two
  3. C. All three
  4. D. None
Explanation
Correct answer
D. None

* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.

International Relations Current Affairs Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2018 International Relations

The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -

  1. A. China
  2. B. Israel
  3. C. Iraq
  4. D. Yemen
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Israel

The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.

International Relations Current Affairs Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.

International Relations Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following pairs :
Regions : often Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?

  1. A. Only one
  2. B. Only Two
  3. C. All three
  4. D. None
Explanation
Correct answer
D. None

None of the pairs (1, 2, or 3) are correctly matched. Let's break it down:  1. North Kivu and Ituri: This region in the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences conflict, but is not related to the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  2. Nagorno-Karabakh: This enclave is disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the insurgency is happening in Mozambique.  3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: These are currently under heavy fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, not a dispute between Israel and Lebanon.

International Relations Current Affairs Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2022 International Relations

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

  1. A. 1 and 2 only
  2. B. 2 and 3 only
  3. C. 1 and 3 only
  4. D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3

Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.

International Relations Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2025 International Relations

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

  1. A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
  2. B. India to Central Asia via China
  3. C. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
  4. D. India to Europe through Azerbaijan
Explanation
Correct answer
A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.

International Relations Geopolitics & International Conflicts
UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?

  1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels.  * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.

International Relations Current Affairs Geopolitics & International Conflicts Emerging Information Technologies
UPSC Prelims 2018 International Relations

In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?

  1. A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
  2. B. The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.
  3. C. The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG.
  4. D. The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.
Explanation
Correct answer
A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.

International Relations Geopolitics & International Conflicts