Politics

Americans divided on Iran nuclear deal: NBC-WSJ poll

The American public remains divided, and befuddled, by the Iran nuclear deal as President Barack Obama and his adversaries on Capitol Hill prepare for votes that could block it.

Some 35 percent of Americans support the deal, which is designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll. A nearly equal share of 33 percent oppose it, reflecting the views of critics who said the deal won't achieve its goals. Some 32 percent say they don't know enough about the deal to have an opinion.

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The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by telephone July 26-30, carries a margin for error of 3.1 percentage points.

The findings suggest room for both sides of the debate to gain the upper hand when Congress returns from its summer break in September to weigh in on the deal. Obama has vowed to veto a resolution of disapproval, which is expected given overwhelming Republican and some Democratic opposition. Even so, the deal would stand unless critics manage the difficult feat of overriding a veto, which requires 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate.

Secretary of State John Kerry in a negotiation session with Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif over Iran's nuclear program in Lausanne on March 20, 2015, as European Union Political Director Helga Schmid looks on.
Brian Snyder | AFP | Getty Images


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