Americans support the interim nuclear deal with Iran by a two-to-one margin, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. Some 44 percent of respondents backed the agreement, and 22 percent opposed it. When asked what Washington should do if the deal fails, only 20 percent of Americans supported using military force to stop Tehran’s nuclear program. Nearly a third said the United States should continue diplomatic efforts and half supported increased economic sanctions. But 25 percent of respondents were unsure. The following are excerpts from the poll conducted on November 26.
Q1. Which of the following Middle Eastern countries do you think treats its citizens best? Please choose only one.
Israel 33%
Turkey 5%
Egypt 4%
Saudi Arabia 3%
Iran 2%
Iraq *%
Syria *%
None of these 20%
Not sure 33%
Q2. Which of the following Middle Eastern countries do you believe poses the biggest threat to the United States and its allies? Please choose only one.
Iran 42%
Iraq 11%
Syria 9%
Israel 3%
Saudi Arabia 2%
Turkey 1%
Egypt *%
None of these 6%
Not sure 26%
Q3. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran are substantively improving. Which of the following statements comes closer to your personal view?
• The US is right to improve its diplomatic relations with Iran 36%
• The US should hold a hard line with Iran and maintain or expand current sanctions 37%
• Unsure 28%
Q4. Thinking about Iran’s nuclear program, do you think that it is for...
• Peaceful purposes (e.g. energy) 6%
• Weapons development (e.g. nuclear bomb) 63%
• Unsure 31%
Q5. When it comes to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, do you think the US should...
• Use diplomatic channels 32%
• Use military force 6%
• Both 39%
• Neither 4%
• Unsure 18%
Q6. The United States and other world powers have reached an interim deal with Iran to freeze on the nation's nuclear program in exchange for lifting some sanctions on the country. Do you support or oppose this deal?
• Support 44%
• Oppose 22%
• Not sure 34%
Q7. If this deal fails, should the US..?
• Continue diplomatic efforts 31%
• Increase economic sanctions 49%
• Use military force 20%
• Not sure 25%
Q8. If Israel were to launch military strikes on Iran to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, would you approve or disapprove this action?
• I would approve of it as long as it was supported by the US government 15%
• I would approve of it even if the US government did not support it 25%
• I would disapprove of it if the US government didn’t support it 6%
• I would disapprove of it even if the US government supported it 17%
• Not sure 37%
TOTAL APPROVE 40%
TOTAL DISAPPROVE 23%