A new public opinion survey in the United States shows that Americans broadly support efforts to negotiate an agreement to restrict Iran's nuclear program even though they are skeptical that it will actually prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
The Washington Post-ABC News poll released Tuesday found that 59 percent of Americans polled favored completion of a deal, with 31 percent opposed.
The survey came as the United States and five other world powers face a self-imposed midnight deadline at talks in Switzerland to reach accord with Iran to curb its nuclear development program in exchange for easing sanctions that have hobbled the Iranian economy.
The random survey of 1,003 adults also showed that 59 percent are not confident that an agreement with Iran would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The world powers — China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the U.S. — are trying to keep Iran from becoming the presumed 10th country across the globe with nuclear capability and give the world at least a year's warning if Tehran attempts to develop a weapon.
The survey showed support in the U.S. for completing a deal outpaces opposition across nearly all demographic and political groups; but, support for an agreement is weakest among Republicans, with only a slight plurality favoring it.
