AP-GfK Poll: Few trust Iran to follow through on agreement

In this May 8, 2015, photo, Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council pose for photographers at the Chief of Mission Residence in Paris, France, to discuss Middle East concerns about an emerging nuclear deal with Iran. Kerry has also visited Sri Lanka, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia on his trip. Many Americans like the idea of the preliminary deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear program but very few people really believe Tehran will follow through with the agreement. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) In this May 8, 2015, photo, Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council pose for photographers at the Chief of Mission Residence in Paris, France, to discuss Middle East concerns about an emerging nuclear deal with Iran. Kerry has also visited Sri Lanka, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia on his trip. Many Americans like the idea of the preliminary deal that would limit Iran’s nuclear program but very few people really believe Tehran will follow through with the agreement. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

By Associated Press May 12, 2015 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – A majority of Americans like the idea of the preliminary deal struck between Iran and six world powers, including the United States, to limit its nuclear program, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. But few Americans believe Iran will live up to its end of the bargain.

The preliminary deal will be a key point of discussion on Thursday when President Barack Obama hosts top officials from Gulf Arab countries at Camp David to reassure the anxious allies about the U.S. overtures to Iran.

Five things to know about public opinion on a potential deal with Iran:

MOST APPROVE OF DEAL

According to the new AP-GfK survey, 54 percent of Americans approve and 43 percent disapprove of the preliminary agreement between Iran, the United States and five other world powers to curb Iran’s nuclear program. That’s slightly fewer than the 60 percent of Americans in an AP-GfK poll conducted in 2014 who approved of an earlier interim agreement reached by the same group of nations.