American Public Opinion Polls: Opinion Toward Iran
(2010 - 2015)
Which of these comes closest to your opinion? Iran is a threat to the United States that requires military action now. Iran is a threat that can be contained for now. OR, Iran is not a threat to the United States at this time. (CBS News/New York Times, January 26-29)
|
May 2013
|
January 2020
|
|
| Requires action now |
15% |
14%
|
| Can be contained |
59% |
64%
|
| Not a threat |
21%
|
17%
|
| Unsure/No answer |
5%
|
5%
|
Next, we have a question about the recent military action the United States took that resulted in the death of an Iranian military general. Do you approve or disapprove of this U.S. military action? (Gallup , January 16-29, 2020)
|
2020
|
|
| Approve |
53%
|
| Disapprove |
45%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. government is handling Iran? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2019*
|
2019 |
2020
|
|
| Approve |
47% |
42%
|
40%
|
| Disapprove |
53% |
53%
|
56%
|
*Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019
In comparison to three years ago, do you think the odds of the U.S. going to war with Iran are higher, lower, or the same? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2019
|
2020
|
|
| Higher |
45% |
45%
|
| Lower |
9% |
10%
|
| The same |
26%
|
27%
|
| Unsure, Don't Know Refused |
20%
|
18%
|
What do you believe the Trump administration’s most important goal in its policy toward Iran is currently? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2019
|
2020
|
|
| Prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons |
30% |
25%
|
| Change Iranian behavior in the region |
7% |
11%
|
| Change the regime |
3%
|
2%
|
| Undo Barack Obama’s policy |
28%
|
33%
|
| Look tough at home |
9%
|
8%
|
| Please key Middle Eastern allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia |
7%
|
7%
|
| Unsure, Don't Know Refused |
16%
|
14%
|
Which one of the following is closest to your view? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2019
|
2020
|
|
| To achieve its current goal vis-à-vis Iran, the U.S. should be prepared to go to war |
21% |
20%
|
| The current goals of U.S. policy do not warrant waging war. The U.S. must rely on other means short of war. |
76% |
76% |
| Refused |
4%
|
4%
|
On September 14, an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil fields cut Saudi oil production by half, accounting for 5% of the world’s oil supply, for several weeks. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, fighting Saudi Arabia, took responsibility for the attack, and the United States and some European countries blamed Iran. Which one of the following is closest to your view about the evidence presented to the public so far about Iran’s responsibility? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2020
|
|
| Very convincing |
20%
|
| Somewhat convincing |
42%
|
| Somewhat unconvincing |
21%
|
| Very unconvincingy |
12%
|
| Refused |
4%
|
If sufficient evidence emerges that Iran is responsible, should the U.S. consider a military action in response? (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
|
2020
|
|
| Yes |
32%
|
| No |
66%
|
| Refused |
2%
|
Which one of the the following factors is most important in explaining the escalation in the Gulf region that has endangered the oil trade: (University of Maryland, October 4-10, 2019)
| Total | |
| The nature of Iran’s regime |
22% |
| The war in Yemen |
5% |
| The U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal (the JCPOA) |
355% |
| U.S. imposition of new sanctions on Iran, including on its oil exports |
34% |
| Refused |
5% |
Do you think President Trump is too tough, too lenient or just right in dealing with Iran? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Too tough |
22% |
| Too lenient |
40% |
| Just right |
38%
|
Do you support or oppose the United States imposing new sanctions on Iran's economy in response to Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil production facilities? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
72% |
| Oppose |
28% |
Do you support or oppose the United States sending a moderate number of troops and air and missile defenses to Saudi Arabia in response to the attacks on its oil production facilities? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
58% |
| Oppose |
42% |
Do you think the odds of the U.S. going to war with Iran are high or low? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| High |
34% |
| Low |
29% |
| Unsure/DK |
38%
|
Should the United States launch a military strike on Iran if more attacks disrupting the world's oil supply occur, or should it continue to isolate the country diplomatically and apply economic pressure and sanctions? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Launch a military strike |
29% |
| Continue to isolate the country diplomatically |
71% |
A Would you support or oppose the U.S. government launching a military strike on Iran if it continues hostilities the Persian Gulf and the region but does not attack US military assets or personnel? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
39% |
| Oppose |
61% |
Would you support or oppose the U.S. government launching a military strike on Iran if it attacks US military assets or personnel? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
73% |
| Oppose |
27% |
Would you support or oppose the US government launching a military strike on Iran if it announces it now has nuclear weapons? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
49% |
| Oppose |
51% |
Do you consider Iran an ally, an enemy, or neutral towards the United States? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Ally |
6% |
| Enemy |
76% |
| Neutral |
18%
|
Do you think Iran is a peaceful force in the Middle East or does it contribute to conflict and instability in the region? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Peaceful Force |
19% |
| Contributes to conflict and instability |
81% |
Do you think the government of Iran has the support of its people or not? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Has the support |
31% |
| Does not have the support |
69% |
Do you think Iran is a working democracy or is it run by a group of religious leaders who claim absolute power based on religion? (Harvard-Harris September 22-24, 2019)
|
Total |
|
| Iran is a working democracy |
17% |
| Iran is run by a group of religious leaders |
83% |
How much confidence do you have in President Trump to handle the threats posed by Iran? (Politico, May 2018)
|
Total |
|
| A lot |
29% |
| Some |
20% |
| Not Much |
14%
|
| None at all |
33%
|
Do you think U.S. relations with Iran has gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same since President Trump took office? (Politico, May 2018)
|
Total |
|
| Better |
6% |
| Worse |
57% |
| Stayed the same |
18%
|
| Don't know/No answer |
20%
|
Do you think the United States should or should not withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal? (CNN/SSRS, May 2018)
|
Total |
|
| The U.S. Should Withdraw From the Iran Deal |
29% |
| The U.S. Should Stay in the Iran Deal |
63% |
Regardless of what you think about whether the U.S. should withdraw from that agreement, do you think that Iran has or has not violated the terms of the agreement? (CNN/SSRS, May 2018)
|
Total |
|
| Yes Iran has Violated the Agreement |
62% |
| No Iran has not Violated the Agreement |
19% |
Do you support or oppose what President Trump is doing against Iran? (Harvard-Harris, October 2017)
|
Total |
|
| Support |
51% |
| Oppose |
49% |
What is your overall opinion of Iran? Is it favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (Gallup, February 27, 2015)
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
|
| Favorable |
3% |
2%
|
2%
|
2%
|
2%
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
1%
|
| Mostly Favorable |
11% |
9%
|
10%
|
7%
|
8%
|
9%
|
9%
|
10%
|
7%
|
8%
|
6%
|
| Mostly Unfavorable |
39% |
44%
|
42%
|
39%
|
35%
|
39%
|
38%
|
43%
|
38%
|
40%
|
49%
|
| Very Unfavorable |
40% |
40%
|
42%
|
48%
|
52%
|
43%
|
46%
|
42%
|
45%
|
48%
|
46%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's handling of Iran? (Gallup, August 2015)
|
Total |
Republicans |
Democrats |
|
| Approve |
33% |
10% |
56% |
| Disapprove |
55% |
82% |
29% |
Do you approve of the way that President Obama has dealt with Iran in general?(Quinnipiac, August 2015)
|
Total |
Republicans |
Democrats |
|
| Support |
35% |
3% |
67% |
| Oppose |
56% |
93% |
23% |
| Don't know/No answer |
9% |
4% |
10% |
Do you approve of the way that President Obama has dealt with Iran in general? (Washington Post/ABC, July 2015)
|
Total |
Republicans |
Democrats |
|
| I approve |
35% |
80% |
59% |
| I disapprove |
52% |
20% |
41% |
Sources: “National: Iran got better end of deal,” Monmouth University, (August 10. 2015);
Jennifer Agiesta, “Majority wants Congress to reject Iran deal,” CNN/ORC, (July 28, 2015);
Scott Clement, “56% of people support Obama's Iran deal. But they don't think it will work,” Washington Post, (July 20, 2015);
“Iran nuclear agreement meets with public skepticism,” Pew Research Center, (July 21, 2015);
“American voters back Iran deal by wide margin, Quinnipiac poll finds,” Quinnipiac (April 27, 2015)
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