February 2, 2018

Support for the nuclear deal among Iranians is slipping, according to a new poll by the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) and IranPoll.com. Since June 2017, support for the deal fell by 12 points to 55 percent. Three fourths of respondents said the deal has not improved people’s living conditions.

For most Iranians, the United States is to blame for why the deal is not living up to their expectations. “Current U.S. policies are undermining the Iranian nuclear deal and making it less likely that Iran will work with Western powers to address a range of outstanding challenges in the Middle East,” said CISSM Director Nancy Gallagher in a press release. Nearly all respondents, 93 percent, said the United States is violating its obligation to allow other countries to normalize their trade and economic relations with Iran. Some 85 percent said President Trump’s Iran policies are hostile.

The telephone survey of 1,002 Iranians was conducted from January 16 to 24, just weeks after protests broke out over economic hardships and corruption. The protests quickly morphed into anti-government demonstrations that spread to more than 80 cities. At least 20 people were killed and more than 3,000 arrested. Some protestors criticized Iran’s involvement in the region, chanting slogans like "not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran” and "leave Syria, think about us.”

The survey results show that Iranians are divided on foreign policy. About half said Iran should try to find mutually acceptable solutions to regional problems while 46 percent said Iran should try to become the powerful country in the region. On Syria, about half of respondents said that Iran should continue helping the Assad government until it gains full control over all territory. Nearly a third said Iran should reduce its assistance, and 15 percent said it should end assistance. On Yemen, 41 percent said that Iran should get involved in the conflict there while 47 percent said it should help the Houthi rebels defeat their opponents. On the issue of Iran’s controversial missile program, Iranians were nearly unanimous in their support for it. The following are key results from the poll.

Nuclear Deal

Foreign Policy

Defense Policy

Views of Leaders

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif played a key role in negotiating the nuclear deal.

General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Qods Force, is responsible for foreign operations. He has been in charge of Iran’s policies in Iraq and leading Iraqi Shia militias in their fight against the Islamic State.