Iran Tops Enemies List

A poll about American attitudes toward Iran

The roiling protests in the streets of Iran have not nudged America's outlook on the Islamic Republic:

Seventy percent (70%) of voters believe it is more important to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons than it is to prevent war between Israel and Iran. That’s up 18 points from July 2008. Twenty-two percent (22%) say preventing war between the two nations is more important.

However, 50% say the United States should help Israel if the latter nation attacks Iran. Three percent (3%) say America should help Iran, and 34% say it should do nothing. These findings are basically unchanged from May.

Americans overwhelmingly regard Israel as a U.S. ally, and it is one of only five countries that most Americans are willing to defend militarily.

By contrast, Iran ranks at the top of America’s enemies list when voters are asked which country they are most concerned about in terms of U.S. national security.