Poll: Most back Iran deal, but doubt its success

Most Americans support an international deal struck over Iran’s nuclear program but doubt it will prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, according to a ABC/Washington Post poll out Monday.

A majority, 56 percent, supports the deal lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for new limits on its nuclear program, while 37 percent oppose it, according to the survey.

{mosads}Meanwhile, more than six in 10 Americans — 64 percent — say in the poll that they are “not so” or “not at all” confident the accord will prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

Only 6 percent are “very” confident the deal among the U.S. and five other global powers with Iran will prevent that outcome, while another 29 percent are “somewhat” confident it will do so.

Partisan differences emerge in the poll, with support for the deal coming from 69 percent of Democrats, 56 percent of independents and 41 percent of Republicans.

Basic details for a deal announced in early April received slightly more support, 59 to 31 percent, in another ABC/Washington Post survey released just before the framework was unveiled.

The Obama administration has long cast the deal reached last week among the U.S., Iran, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China as the only way to close Iran’s pathways to a bomb.

President Obama has sought to win over public support for the deal reached early last week, which continues to face deep public skepticism and some staunch opposition within Congress.

Vice President Biden headed to the Capitol on two separate days last week to win over support among Democrats in the House and Senate, where lawmakers will review the deal.

The survey released Monday of 1,002 U.S. adults was conducted July 16-19 via landlines and cellphones with an overall margin of error of 3.5 points.