Gallup: Fewer Americans Consider Iran as Their Greatest Enemy

The latest survey results from the American polling agency Gallup show that 9% of Americans consider Iran to be the greatest current enemy of the United States, a 7% decrease from 16% in 2014. This statistical decline is even more pronounced when compared to the 2012 survey results, where 32% of Americans viewed Iran as their greatest enemy, while countries like Russia and North Korea accounted for only 2% and 10% of the votes that year. Iran and global powers, including the U.S., reached a temporary nuclear agreement last December, under which Tehran would limit its nuclear program and the West would reduce sanctions against Iran. Since then, Iran and the U.S. have held multiple bilateral negotiations, which are set to resume on Friday, March 1. However, the 2015 Gallup survey indicates that today, from the perspective of Americans, Russia is considered the greatest enemy of the United States, with 18% of the votes, followed by North Korea with 15%, China with an unspecified percentage, Iran with 9%, Iraq with 8%, countries where ISIS is active with 4%, and Syria with 4%. Thus, with the ongoing Ukraine crisis, Russia has also gained a more hostile image among the American public. Gallup stated that this survey was conducted from February 8 to 11, 2023, just before the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. This agreement has not yet been implemented, as the war in Eastern Ukraine continues between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists, although the international community emphasizes the need for its implementation and an end to the conflicts. The new survey also shows that currently, 49% of Americans view Russia's military power as a vital threat to the United States, whereas in 2014, only 32% held such a view. Additionally, 41% consider Russia's military power as a significant but not vital threat to the U.S. Finally, in 2015, only 24% of Americans had a favorable view of Russia compared to 70% who did not, whereas two years earlier, 44% of Americans had a positive opinion of Russia. Gallup conducted this survey randomly via telephone with 837 individuals aged 18 and older living in all 50 states and the capital of the U.S.