The Pew Research Center has reemphasized polling describing the global community as deeply skeptical of Iranian intentions, both in general and as regards what is widely suspected to be the Islamic republic’s drive to acquire nuclear weapons. Late last month Jacob Poushter, a research associate at the Pew Global Attitudes Project, described the environment:

But with global public opinion decidedly anti-Iran, there is a steep hill to climb in Rouhani’s quest to improve Iran’s image and repair relations with the rest of the world. Overall, a median of 20% across the 39 countries surveyed in a spring 2013 Pew Research Center poll had a positive view of the Islamic Republic… majorities in most of the countries surveyed had an unfavorable opinion of Iran. In the U.S., 69% expressed a negative view. And compared to ratings of other countries and institutions, Iran is at the bottom of the list, falling behind Russia, China, the EU, UN, and U.S.

Numbers from earlier this year, also published by Pew, suggests that public distrust of Iran extends into policy preferences. In the United States there is broad support for using military force, if necessary, to block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Huge majorities in Israel and throughout the Middle East “oppose Iran developing a nuclear arsenal.”

A poll conducted last year regarding U.S. sentiment was even more descriptive on policy preferences:

The military option is even more divisive among those who are against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. A solid majority (63%) of Americans would turn to military force to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Roughly half of Washington’s European allies would support such a move. And there is very little Chinese or Russian support for a military strike. These are among the findings from a survey by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project, conducted March 17 to April 20, 2012.

President Barack Obama has maintained that the U.S. is willing to use military force to block Iranian weapons acquisition. The President recently reiterated the position at the United Nations and in remarks provided during a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The most recent report from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog criticized Iran [PDF] for “not providing the necessary cooperation” to allow the organization to confirm that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.

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