Poll: Americans concerned about Iran’s nuke program, view Israel as a close ally

Survey shows a significant increase in the percentage of Americans who view Israel as a close ally, while Americans increasingly view Iran as an enemy power.

By World Israel News Staff

The vast majority of Americans are concerned about Iran’s nuclear program, while a sizable majority perceive the Islamic Republic as an enemy of the United States, a new poll shows.

On Thursday, The Associated Press published the survey in conjunction with NORC at the University of Chicago, based on data collected online and over the telephone from 1,133 respondents across the United States.

The poll found that 79% of respondents are concerned about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program to the security of the United States, including 48% who said they were extremely or very concerned. Just 6% said they were not concerned at all, with 13% saying they were not very concerned.

A narrower majority, 61%, said they consider the Islamic Republic to be an enemy, compared to just 2% who defined Iran as a “close ally” of the United States, with 7% listing it as a friendly but non-allied nation, and 28% who said Iran is not friendly with the US but not an enemy.

Most respondents (54%) defined Israel as a close ally of the United States, up 14 points from the previous poll conducted in March 2025, when just 40% described Israel as a close ally.

Nine percent said Israel is an “enemy” of the US, while 16% described the Jewish state as “not friendly but not an enemy,” with 19% listing Israel as friendly but not an ally.

Amid fears of a possible war between the US and Iran in the near future, only a minority of respondents said they trust President Donald Trump to handle key military issues.

Just 40% said they trust Trump to make the proper decision regarding the use of nuclear weapons, while 47% said they do not trust him at all.

A total of 44% of respondents said they trust Trump to make the right decision regarding the use of military force abroad, compared to 43% who said they have no trust at all in the president’s judgment. The numbers were identical regarding maintaining relationships with America’s allies.