October 25, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in the United States reject a conflict against Iran, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates published in Newsweek. 54 per cent of respondents oppose air strikes against military targets and suspected nuclear sites in Iran, while 76 per cent believe the U.S. should not send ground troops to take control of the country.

- Many adults in the United States reject a conflict against Iran, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates published in Newsweek. 54 per cent of respondents oppose air strikes against military targets and suspected nuclear sites in Iran, while 76 per cent believe the U.S. should not send ground troops to take control of the country.

After being branded as part of an "axis of evil" by United States 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 May, European Union (EU) foreign policy representative Javier Solana presented a package of incentives designed by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S. to achieve negotiations with Iran on the reach of its nuclear program. The most contentious topic of the proposal calls for Iran to temporarily halt its uranium enrichment activities.

In July, the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council agreed on a resolution which calls for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment before the end of August, or face the threat of sanctions. Iran ignored the deadline.

On Oct. 23, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Mohammed El-Baradei discussed the state of affairs in Iran, saying, "Based on our most recent inspections, the second centrifuge cascade is in place and ready to go. (...) Penalizing them is not a solution. At the end of the day, we have to bite the bullet and talk to North Korea and Iran."

Polling Data

Please tell me whether or not you would support the following kinds of U.S. military action against Iran if that country continues its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

	Support	Oppose	Not sure
Air strikes against military targets and suspected nuclear sites in Iran	38%	54%	8%
Sending in U.S. ground troops to take control of the country	18%	76%	6%

Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.