A majority of American voters believe economic sanctions to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons won’t work and half say the United States should take military action if sanctions fail, a new poll shows.
In a Quinnipiac University survey, 60 percent said the sanctions placed against Iran by the U.S. and its allies have not been effective, while 33 percent said they have been effective.
Asked whether the U.S. should take military action to prevent Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon, 55 percent of voters said it shouldn’t, while 36 percent said it should. However, asked if the U.S. should take military action if sanctions against Iran to prevent its nuclear weapons program proved to be unsuccessful, 50 percent voted in favor of using military force.
If Israel were to attack Iran to stop its nuclear weapons program, only 6 percent of voters believe the U.S. should oppose Israel’s action. They were almost evenly split between those who said America should support Israel’s attack on Iran, 46 percent, and those who said the U.S. should remain neutral, 44 percent.
In general, the majority of American voters, 66 percent, say they have been following the news about Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons either very closely or somewhat closely. An even bigger majority of them, 88 percent, say Iran’s nuclear weapons development is either a very serious or somewhat serious threat to America’s national security.
Almost one of two voters, 46 percent, approve of the way President Barack Obama has been handling the situation in Iraq, while 38 percent say they disapprove.
Earlier this month, the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency released a report that said Iran is on its way to building nuclear weapons, raising the Obama administration’s concerns about the country’s nuclear ambitions.
Days after the IAEA report was published, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly warned that if the U.S. or Israel considers attacking his country’s nuclear facilities, they should expect a “strong slap and an iron fist.”
On Monday, Obama ordered new sanctions to be imposed on individuals who have contributed to Iran’s development of petroleum resources or production of petrochemicals.
{Politico/Matzav.com Newscenter}
