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Majority of Americans Don't Trust Iran to Abide By Nuclear Deal Terms, Poll Says

Hassan Rouhani
AP
July 14, 2015

A poll conducted in advance of the nuclear arms deal announcement Tuesday shows that a majority of Americans do not trust Iran to hold itself to the terms of an agreement meant to restrict the country’s nuclear program.

The survey, released Tuesday by Monmouth University, shows that 55 percent of U.S. adults would not trust Iran at all to obey an agreement that would scale back the country's nuclear program and grant independent inspections of its facilities.

While 35 percent would trust Iran "a little," only 5 percent would place "a lot" of faith in the country to abide by the deal terms.

The survey was conducted between July 9 and 12, days before world leaders put finishing touches on the deal in Vienna and announced its completion Tuesday.

The agreement, now subject to a review by Congress, would lift international sanctions on Iran while allowing the country to press on with crucial elements of its nuclear work, research, and development.

"The pact with Iran faces an uncertain future in Congress," explained Patrick Murray, director of Monmouth University polling. "A major sticking point with the American public is a sense that Tehran really can’t be trusted to keep its part of the bargain."

The poll also indicates that 49 percent of Americans believe attempting to reach a deal with Iran is a good thing, while 36 percent deem it a bad move. A majority of Democrats see the attempt positively, while a majority of Republicans do not.

Multiple congressional Democrats have voiced their opposition to a key concession made to Iran in the agreement.

Republican lawmakers such as Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) have strongly criticized the deal.