November 01, 2019
A survey conducted for the Brookings Institution found that most Americans believe the Trump Administration’s decisions to renege on the JCPOA and re-impose sanctions were responsible for the flare-up in tensions between Iran and the US this year.
The latest survey, taken October 4-10, said that 69 percent blame the escalation in tensions in the Persian Gulf on the Trump Administration for withdrawing from the nuclear deal or for re-imposing sanctions, while 22 percent blame it on the nature of the Iranian regime and 5 percent blamed it on the war in Yemen.
The survey found that most Americans already disapproved of Trump’s handling of Iran before the September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, and that disapproval increased in the wake of the attacks. Before the attacks, disapproval stood at 51 percent and after them it went up to 57 percent.
Three quarters of the respondents said the US must rely on means short of war, and there is virtually no change in that view before or after the attacks. When asked a follow-up question about Iranian responsibility for the attacks, there is still very little support for military action.
The survey asked, “If sufficient evidence emerges that Iran is responsible, should the US consider a military action in response?” Two-thirds still reject military action even if Iran’s responsibility were confirmed.