Diplomacy

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Gallup: Only 11% of Americans View Iran Favorably

Only 11% of Americans view Iran favorably, according to the results of a Gallup poll released today.

As the United States and several other nations continue to negotiate what would be a landmark agreement to limit Iran’s production of nuclear weapons, more than eight in 10 Americans view Iran unfavorably (84%). Only 11% have a favorable view of the country. Despite this potential thaw in Iranian-U.S. relations, Americans’ views on its long-time foe have remained unchanged for 26 years.

Iran’s historical favorable average of 11% is the lowest of 22 countries Gallup asked about in this year’s World Affairs poll, conducted Feb. 8-11 — a list that includes such prominent U.S. adversaries as Russia, Syria and North Korea.

Gallup reported these numbers in the context of the ongoing American-led nuclear diplomacy with Iran.

Along with five other nations, U.S. and Iranian negotiators are working to reach an accord satisfactory to all parties. But any agreement will have the herculean task of overcoming a generation’s worth of mutual enmity, feelings that are at least partially evident in Americans’ low favorable rating of Iran. This is not to say public opinion is immutable — Cuba saw its favorable rating spike by eight points this year in the wake of its announced détente with the U.S. — but attitudes toward Iran may prove a weight on U.S. negotiators and will be reflected in Congress’ reaction to any deal.

A Gallup poll earlier this month found that 77% of Americans felt that Iran posed a “critical threat” the Unite States.

In contrast to Iran, 70% of Americans viewed Israel favorably.

[Photo: JewishNewsOne / YouTube ]