A CNN poll released Sunday found that nearly half of Americans wanted Congress to reject President Obama’s Iran deal and 59 percent disapprove of the way Obama is handling the U.S. relationship with Iran.
The deal, which lifts sanctions off Iran in return for stricter controls over its production of uranium, has been sharply criticized by most Republicans, who say it weakens the U.S. position and gives Iran too much wiggle room.
That position appears to be a winning one among voters, who are increasingly viewing Iran as a serious threat. Most Americans think Iran will violate the agreement, the CNN poll found. Thirty-seven percent called that “extremely likely” and 23 percent said it’s “very likely.” Only 10 percent said it’s not all all likely Iran would break the agreement.
Majorities in both parties (57 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Republicans) said the U.S. should respond with military action if Iran did violate the terms of the deal. About a third wouldn’t want the country to take action if it broke the deal.
The House voted Friday to disapprove of the deal, but Senate Republicans weren’t able to persuade enough Democrats to join them in an effort to ultimately block it.
