Poll 4: Views on Regional Conflicts, Syria

A majority of Iranians favor sending military personnel to Syria, according to a new poll by the University of Tehran’s Center for Public Opinion Research (UTCPOR) and IranPoll.com, working in conjunction with the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM). A majority also support providing help to Syrian President Bashar al Assad. But more Iranians are in favor of protecting Shiite religious sites (80 percent) and fighting ISIS (87 percent) than strengthening Assad (63 percent). “While it is widely assumed that Iran cares more about preserving Bashar Assad’s hold on power than anything else,” said Nancy Gallagher, interim director of CISSM, “this study reveals that Iranians are significantly more concerned about the rise of ISIS than Assad’s hold on power.” More Iranians also favor providing help to Kurdish and Shiite groups fighting ISIS than Assad. The following are key results from the telephone poll of 1,012 Iranians conducted from Dec. 29, 2015 to Jan. 15, 2016.

 

 

 
 
 
Some say that Iran should send military personnel to Syria to help the government of Bashar Assad in its fight against armed Syrian rebels, including ISIS, so that these rebels would not be able to threaten Iran’s interests and security in the region. 
 
Others argue that Iran should not send military personnel to Syria because this would increase Iran’s enemies in the region and beyond. 
 
Which of these views is closer to your opinion?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you may know, the United State has been involved in Syria. Many reasons have been given for the United States’ involvement in Syria. As I read each reason, please say if, as far as you know, this is the most important reason, an important reason, a possible reason, or not one of the reasons behind United States’ involvements in Syria?
 
 
 
 
Click here for more information.
 
Click here to watch a webcast of the launch event for the poll.