Most Americans do not believe that the nuclear deal will stop Iran from building a bomb. They would prefer to leave sanctions on the Islamic Republic in place.
As details emerge on the details of the nuclear deal signed between Iran and the P5+1 powers last week, the majority of Americans are expressing skepticism about the accord’s prospects and concern regarding its eventual consequences.
An AP poll shows that 77 percent of Americans believe that sanctions on Tehran should be maintained or even increased.
Mary Barry, 57, of Arlington, Texas, is happy that the Obama administration opened diplomatic efforts with Iran, but she is wary about lifting sanctions.
“I think we need to have diplomatic relations with Iran and monitor their nuclear weapon,” said Berry. However, she added that the US needs “to keep the sanctions in place on Iran to make sure they’re doing what they’ve promised they’re going to do, because I think Iran is a country that you can’t really trust.”
Another poll conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post shows that the vast majority of US citizens do not believe the Iranians will comply with the deal.
Americans, by a broad 19-point margin, support the nuclear deal with Iran with 56 percent of support, even as two-thirds polled expressed skepticism that it will work.
Interestingly enough, relatively few gave President Barack Obama credit for bringing it to pass.
EU High Representative Mogherini (L), Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Salehi, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, British Foreign Secretary Hammond and US Secretary of State Kerry. (Joe Klamar/AP)
Just 35 percent are “very” or “somewhat” confident the deal in fact will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons; far more, 64 percent, are less confident.
Confidence interacts with support. Among people who are at least somewhat confident the deal will work, 86 percent support it. Among those with less confidence, fewer – but still 40 percent – are willing to give it a try.
Majority backing for the agreement fits with a more general pattern, according to which the public tends to prefer diplomatic approaches over military action, ABC News explains.
The poll found that just 35 percent approve of the president’s handling of the issue with Iran, with 52 percent disapproving. Even among the 56 percent who support the deal, 36 percent disapprove of Obama’s management of the situation.
Obama gets 59 percent approval from Democrats for dealing with the situation – but that is weaker than a president might expect in his own party, and it drops to 33 percent among independents and 10 percent among Republicans.
By: United with Israel Staff and AP
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