More Americans concerned with Iran's nuclear program than year ago, poll finds

WASHINGTON -- More Americans believe Iran's nuclear program is a major threat to the well-being of the United States in December 2015 than did in August 2014, according to a poll released by Pew Research Center earlier this week.

Sixty-two percent of those polled this month said Iran's program poses a significant threat, up from 59 percent in a similar poll taken last year. The small increase comes after US President Barack Obama, in his end-of-year press conference on Friday, said the problem was largely solved after a deal was secured with Tehran in July curbing its nuclear ambitions for at least a decade.

"We succeeded in forging a strong deal to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In fact, Iran has already dismantled thousands of centrifuges that enrich uranium," Obama repeated in his weekly Sunday video address, listing the deal among the administration's top ten accomplishments from the past year.

The same poll found a significant increase in American concerns with the rise of Islamic State, from 67 percent believing it is a significant threat in 2014 to 83 percent this month.

The research center also found a decrease in US concerns over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 48 percent considered it a matter of concern to the well-being of the US last year, as opposed to 43 percent this year.

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/More-Americans-concerned-with-Irans-nuclear-program-than-year-ago-poll-finds-437883