December 13-2013
A new poll shows a plurality of Americans opposed to the November 24 nuclear deal the United States signed with Iran and a substantial majority of the American public distrusting the Iranian government.
The first polls taken after the agreement was announced generally showed support for the agreement. But as the deal has been more widely discussed among the public, support has waned.
The latest poll was much larger than previous polls. It was taken by the Pew Research Center among 2,001 American adults over December 3-8.
It found that only 32 percent of those queried approved the deal while 43 percent disapproved and 25 percent did not have an opinion.
Almost all groups leaned to disapproval—all age groups and both men and women. College graduates, however, leaned to approval, as did Democrats. But even with Democrats, only 50 percent expressed approval, a surprisingly low margin of support for a Democratic president on a major issue.
Liberal Democrats supported the deal 60 percent to 19 percent while Tea Party conservatives opposed it 72 percent to 13 percent.
The lack of support may be reflective of the responses to another question in the Pew poll. The survey asked people if they believed Iran’s leaders were serious or not serious about addressing the world’s concerns about its nuclear program. A solid majority of 62 percent said they did not believe the Iranian regime was serious. That clear lack of trust for the regime probably colors the views about the nuclear agreement.
Even among Democrats who support the agreement and are supporting their president, there is widespread suspicion of the Iranian government. Overall, 49 percent of Democrats who say they have heard about the agreement say they do not think Iran’s leaders are serious about addressing international concerns with just 41 percent saying they are. Opinion is lopsidedly suspicious among independents—63 percent not serious versus 29 percent serious—and Republicans—77 percent not serious versus just 14 percent serious.
The poll did not ask whether the public would support military action, which many have said is the alternative to a negotiated agreement.