Most Americans want a deal with Iran, but doubt it will happen 

The U.S. and Iran have opened talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. It’s pretty clear where each side stands: 

  • Iran wants “to get sanctions relief and avert an Israeli strike on Iran.” 
  • President Trump’s stance is Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” 

But where do the American people stand?  

The April 2025 Harvard-Harris poll asked a panel of 2,286 registered voters exactly that. Here’s what respondents said:  

No Nukes 

Respondents generally aligned with President Trump’s stance that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. 

  • 71% said Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities should be destroyed. 
  • There was consensus across party lines. Independents (65%), Democrats (66%), and Republicans (80%) were all in agreement.  

Positively Pessimistic 

Overall, voters viewed the latest negotiations positively.  

  • 60% of voters, including 58% of independents, supported negotiating with Iran over their nuclear weapons. 

But at the same time, a plurality of respondents didn’t expect the talks to go anywhere.  

  • 44% of voters said the talks will result in “no deal at all,” compared to those who said it would lead to a good deal (32%) or a bad deal (24%).  

The Ghost of 2016 

Two-thirds of respondents seemed to remember that America and Iran already negotiated over nuclear weapons a decade ago, under President Obama.  

RELATED: What Was the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal?

Among those who had an opinion about the 2016 Iran Nuclear Deal: 

  • 57% said the deal was not successful, including nearly two-thirds of independents. 
  • The results fell predictably along party lines. Democrats (62%) said President Obama’s deal was a success, while Republicans (66%) said it wasn’t. 

Plan B? 

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both threatened military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons if they don’t agree to a deal.  

If it were to come to that, 

  • 58% of respondents agreed “the U.S. should support Israel in airstrikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities.” 
  • 54% of independents and nearly three-quarters of Republicans agreed, while a majority (55%) of Democrats opposed the idea.

Americans of all stripes agree with the President’s goal: no nukes for Iran. But there’s less consensus over whether he can make it happen.  

So, what do you think? Will President Trump reach a new nuclear deal with Iran?