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

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.

By MICHAEL WILNER
Updated: DECEMBER 21, 2015 04:04
Activists gather at a Capitol Hill rally against the Iran nuclear deal in Washington September 9, 2015 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Activists gather at a Capitol Hill rally against the Iran nuclear deal in Washington September 9, 2015
(photo credit: REUTERS)
WASHINGTON – More Americans believe Iran’s nuclear program is a major threat to the well-being of the United States in December 2015 than they did in August 2014, according to a poll released by Pew Research Center last week.
In a poll this month, 62 percent of US citizens said that Iran’s program poses a significant threat, up slightly from 59% 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 that the problem was largely solved following the deal that 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 reported 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 Americans concerned with the rise of Islamic State, from 67% viewing it as a significant threat in 2014, to 83% this month.
The research center also found a decrease in US concerns over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 48% considered it a matter of concern to the well-being of the US last year, as opposed to 43% this year.