IR · 17 Aug 2026

Strait of Hormuz India energy security

Assertion (A): Iran has been able to exert significant strategic leverage over the United States during the 2026 conflict despite lacking comparable conventional military strength.
Reason (R): The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 25% of global seaborne oil trade passes, is the sole maritime gateway to the Persian Gulf.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

BBoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

CA is true, but R is false

DA is false, but R is true

This question is based on: Vance Just Admitted What the Strait of Hormuz Was Always Really About

Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 17 Aug 2026

About this question

Why in news

With the US-Iran-Israel war stalled and the Strait largely shut by Iranian retaliation, US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that lowering oil prices now ranks ahead of preventing Iranian nuclear capability as Washington's top priority - an admission that reveals the Strait's chokepoint leverage is driving the conflict's trajectory.

Why for UPSC

Assertion-Reasoning questions test whether a causal mechanism, not just two isolated facts, is genuinely understood - here, whether students grasp that geography-based chokepoint control, not military parity, is the actual source of Iran's leverage.

Prelims summary

The Strait of Hormuz carries about 25% of global seaborne oil trade and is the sole maritime gateway to the Persian Gulf. Iran has used control over this chokepoint as asymmetric leverage in the 2026 conflict; India, importing over 50% of its crude from the Gulf, is directly exposed to any sustained closure.

On web, answers are shown once after a test — no save or reattempt. For unlimited reattempts, Hindi medium, and Mentor Observations, use the TAN App.