A new survey finds that while many Americans are deeply concerned about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, a majority say they are skeptical of President Donald Trump’s judgment when it comes to using military force abroad.
The latest poll from the AP-NORC Research Center, released Thursday, reports that 48 percent of respondents are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the dangers stemming from Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Another 31 percent said they are moderately concerned. Just 19 percent indicated they were “not very” or “not concerned at all.”
The findings come as U.S. and Iranian officials engage in a third round of indirect talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman. The negotiations follow months of tensions and renewed diplomatic efforts over Iran’s embattled nuclear program.
The Trump administration has made clear that Iran cannot be allowed to possess enriched uranium or develop a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials, for their part, have rejected accusations that they are building long-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. territory. At the same time, Tehran has insisted it will not abandon its nuclear program.
According to the poll, more than 60 percent of Americans view Iran as an enemy of the United States. Another 28 percent describe the country as “not friendly” but stop short of calling it an outright enemy. Only 7 percent say Iran is “friendly” or a “close ally.”
Negotiations resumed months after Iran withdrew from planned talks with the U.S. last June. That withdrawal followed a deadly Israeli airstrike targeting Iranian nuclear scientists, ballistic missile sites, and a major enrichment facility. Over the summer, the U.S. also launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
President Trump has repeatedly said he prefers a diplomatic solution to the standoff. However, he has also expanded the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, signaling that he wants options available if diplomacy fails. He has warned of what he described as “unfortunate” consequences, including the possibility of a limited strike.
During his record-long State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump reiterated that warning.
“After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, and in particular nuclear weapons, yet they continue,” the president said. “They’re starting it all over.”
“They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Despite broad concern about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the survey shows significant doubt about Trump’s handling of potential military action. Fifty-six percent of adults said they have little or no trust that the president will “make the right decision” regarding international military force. Twenty-seven percent said they do trust him to make the right call.
The poll also reflects broader skepticism about the administration’s foreign policy approach. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they lack confidence in Trump’s ability to maintain relationships with U.S. allies, while 55 percent expressed doubt about how he handles adversaries.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department imposed a new round of sanctions on Iranian individuals, companies, and ships accused of facilitating illicit oil sales and supporting the country’s ballistic missile program. The sanctions were announced Wednesday, just one day before negotiations resumed.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted from Feb. 19 to Feb. 23 among 1,133 adults and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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