(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration should hold diplomatic talks with the leaders of Iran, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 59 per cent of respondents agree with this rationale.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration should hold diplomatic talks with the leaders of Iran, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 59 per cent of respondents agree with this rationale.
Conversely, 40 per cent of respondents would wait until Iran makes significant changes in its policies towards other countries before engaging in diplomatic talks.
In addition, 60 per cent of respondents believe Iran poses a long-term threat to the U.S., 22 per cent think the country poses an immediate threat, and 19 per cent say it does not pose a threat at all.
After being branded as part of an "axis of evil" by then U.S. president George W. Bush in January 2002, Iran has contended that its nuclear program aims to produce energy, not weapons. In June 2005, former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won Iran’s presidential election in a run-off over Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani with 61.6 per cent of all cast ballots.
In December 2006 and March 2007, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions against Iran after it failed to stop uranium enrichment—a process needed both to make nuclear weapons and produce electricity.
In October 2007, Bush announced a new set of unilateral sanctions against Iran, which include the designations of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "proliferator of weapons of mass destruction" and of the elite Quds Force as a "supporter of terrorism." The resolution has significant economic implications for Iran.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2008, Democratic nominee Barack Obama secured a majority of electoral votes, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. On Jan. 20, Obama became the first African American president in U.S. history. Bush—a Republican—served two four-year terms.
Also in January, Obama discussed his views on Iran, saying, "If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us. It is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran."
Earlier this month, in an interview with Germany’s Der Spiegel, Ahmadinejad discussed his views on the new American president, saying, "We speak very respectfully of Barack Obama. But we are realists. We want to see real changes. In this connection, we are also interested in helping correct a faulty policy in Afghanistan. (…) Can it be that America has 5,400 nuclear warheads and Germany has none? And that we are not even permitted to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy? Our logic is completely clear: equal rights for all."
Polling Data
Do you think Obama administration officials should hold diplomatic talks with the leaders of Iran in the next few weeks, or should they wait to hold diplomatic talks with Iran until that country makes significant changes in its policies towards other countries?
|
Hold talks |
59% |
|
Wait to hold talks |
40% |
|
Unsure |
1% |
Which comes closest to your view?
|
Iran poses an immediate threat to the United States |
22% |
|
Iran poses a long-term threat to the U.S., but not an immediate threat |
60% |
|
Iran does not pose a threat to the United States at all |
17% |
|
Unsure |
1% |
Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,023 American adults, conducted from Apr. 3 to Apr. 5, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
