![Next, I am going to read you a list of possible threats to the vital interests of the United States in the next 10 years. For each one, please tell me if you see this as a critical threat, an important but not critical threat, or not an important threat at all. [RANDOM ORDER] Development of nuclear weapons by Iran](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/6zyyi3hp90gfqpw5mm5d_q.png)
![Trend: What one country anywhere in the world do you consider to be the United States’ greatest enemy today? [OPEN-ENDED]](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/-_hstgk-suyrhiw12bomca.png)
Next, how important do you think what happens in each of the following countries is to the United States today -- would you say it is vitally important, important but not vital, not too important, or not at all important? First, how about what happens in … [RANDOM ORDER]?
Iran
|
|
Vitally |
Important, |
Not too |
Not at all |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2011 Feb 2-5 |
57 |
24 |
11 |
5 |
3 |
|
2007 Feb 1-4 |
65 |
22 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
Do you think the United States should or should not engage in direct diplomacy with Iran?
|
|
Yes, should |
No, should not |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 Jan 30-Feb 1 |
56 |
38 |
6 |
What do you think the United States should do to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program -- [ROTATED: take military action against Iran, (or) rely mainly on economic and diplomatic efforts]?
|
|
Take military |
Rely on |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Nov 2-4 |
18 |
73 |
8 |
(Asked of those who say the U.S. should rely mainly on economic and diplomatic efforts to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program) Suppose U.S. economic and diplomatic efforts do not work. If that happens, do you think the United States should -- or should not -- take military action against Iran?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO SAY THE U.S. SHOULD RELY MAINLY ON ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO GET IRAN TO SHUT DOWN ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM
|
|
Yes, should |
No, should not |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Nov 2-4 |
34 |
55 |
11 |
COMBINED RESULTS: BASED ON NATIONAL ADULTS
|
|
2007 Nov 2-4 |
|
% |
|
|
Take military action against Iran |
18 |
|
Take military action if diplomatic/economic efforts fail |
28 |
|
Not take military action even if diplomatic/economic efforts fail |
45 |
|
No opinion |
9 |
How concerned are you that the U.S. will be too quick to use military force in an attempt to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons -- very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?
|
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Nov 2-4 |
42 |
34 |
14 |
8 |
1 |
|
2006 Feb 9-12 |
34 |
35 |
20 |
10 |
1 |
How concerned are you that the U.S. will not do enough to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons -- very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?
|
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Nov 2-4 |
33 |
40 |
17 |
9 |
2 |
|
2006 Feb 9-12 |
26 |
41 |
24 |
6 |
2 |
How confident are you in the United Nations to handle the situation relating to Iran's nuclear program -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?
|
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not at all |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Apr 28-30 |
5 |
28 |
36 |
31 |
1 |
|
2006 Feb 9-12 ^ |
8 |
39 |
27 |
24 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^ WORDING: How confident are you in the United Nations' ability to handle the situation in Iran -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? |
|||||
Suppose all economic and diplomatic efforts fail to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program. If that happens, do you think the United States should -- or should not -- take military action against Iran?
|
|
Yes, should |
No, should not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Apr 28-30 |
36 |
57 |
6 |
What do you think the United States should do to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program -- [ROTATED: take military action against Iran now, use economic and diplomatic efforts but not take military action right now, or take no action against Iran at this time]?
|
|
Take |
Use |
Take no |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Feb 9-12 |
9 |
68 |
18 |
5 |
Suppose the United States does take economic and diplomatic action, but those efforts do not work. If that happens, do you think the United States should -- or should not -- take military action against Iran?
BASED ON ADULTS WHO SAY THE U.S. SHOULD NOT TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN NOW
|
|
Yes, should |
No, should not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 Feb 9-12 |
40 |
49 |
11 |
COMBINED RESPONSES: BASED ON NATIONAL ADULTS
|
|
2006 Feb 6-9 |
|
|
% |
|
U.S. should take |
45 |
|
(Take action now) |
(9) |
|
(If diplomatic efforts fail) |
(36) |
|
|
|
|
U.S. should not take |
45 |
|
|
|
|
No opinion |
10 |
Suppose Iran DOES develop nuclear weapons. Just your best guess, how likely is it that -- [RANDOM ORDER] -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?
|
2006 Feb 9-12 |
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Iran would provide a nuclear weapon to terrorists who would use it against the United States |
50 |
30 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
|
Iran would provide a nuclear weapon to terrorists who would use it against Israel |
49 |
32 |
12 |
4 |
4 |
|
The Iranian government would use nuclear weapons against Israel |
41 |
36 |
15 |
4 |
4 |
|
The Iranian government would use nuclear weapons against the United States |
30 |
29 |
26 |
12 |
2 |
Which comes closest to your view -- [ROTATED: Iran poses an immediate threat to the United States, Iran poses a long-term threat to the U.S., but not an immediate threat, or Iran does not pose a threat to the United States at all]?
|
|
Immediate |
Long-term |
Does not |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Jan 20-22 |
19 |
65 |
12 |
5 |
|
2004 Nov 19-21 ^ |
16 |
65 |
14 |
5 |
|
2004 Jul 30-Aug 1 ^ |
15 |
65 |
15 |
5 |
|
2003 May 30-Jun 1 |
13 |
64 |
20 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^ Asked in rotation with North Korea; results reported based on half sample where Iran asked first. |
||||
How worried are you about Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?
|
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not at all |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Jan 20-22 ^ |
27 |
47 |
19 |
6 |
1 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||||
Based on what you have heard or read, do you think that the government of Iran is -- or is not -- attempting to develop its own nuclear weapons?
|
|
Yes, is |
No, is not |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Jan 20-22 ^ |
80 |
12 |
8 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
