Iran Nuclear Agreement Still Lacks Public Support

As the Iran nuclear deal came to a final Senate vote last fall, the American people back away from it. Multiple polls showed a majority of the public opposed the agreement. Although there was the usual partisan polarization, members of both parties do not trust the Iranians to live up to the bargain and they have a very unfavorable opinion of Iran (84% unfavorable opinion).

• 49% oppose it (47% support) (CNN poll, Sept. 8, 2015)
• 60% Iran likely to violate the terms (CNN, Sept. 8, 2015)
• 49% disapprove (21% approve) (Pew, Sept. 9, 2015

President Obama remains optimistic that he accomplished the goal of keeping Iran from going nuclear and created the possibility of an Iran that becomes a more responsible international player. Both assumptions have doubters, but the President had a good weekend with the certification that Iran had met the initial agreement requirements, allowing lifting of sanctions and the prisoner exchange. Obama touted a “new path” of diplomacy (a contrast with war-like path of Republicans), but diplomacy was proceeded with sanctions and the threat of force, ours or the Israelis was background.

See Washington Post: Obama: Iran nuclear deal, prisoner release show the power of diplomacy