WASHINGTON, May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A majority of Iranians support their
country's quest for nuclear weapons technology, according to the results of a
random telephone survey released today by InterMedia, the Washington, D.C.-
based media and public attitudes research institute. Fifty-five (55) percent
of the 2,001 Iranians questioned support the country's development of nuclear
weapons technology, according to InterMedia, which commissioned the survey,
with 46 percent of the respondents strongly supporting the nuclear program.
"Despite the U.S. perception that a nuclear Iran is a threat to American
and global interests, Iranians themselves are motivated to support this
program for various reasons," said Dr. Haleh Vaziri, InterMedia's Regional
Research Manager for the Middle East and North Africa. "Some of these reasons
are national and regional in scope: nuclear weapons are seen as potential
symbols of national pride. They would also affirm what many in Iran believe,
that the country deserves a place as a recognized regional power. Finally,
some think the country needs a nuclear arsenal for deterrence in what is a
dangerous neighborhood."
The InterMedia survey covered a range of current media and political
issues. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed believe the country is currently
heading in the right direction, and 44 percent saying that an Islamic republic
based on the clergy's guardianship is the best model for the country's future-
-- disappointing numbers for advocates of reform in Iran. "People may have
lost hope in the reformists-at least for now," Vaziri said. Iran will hold
presidential elections June 17.
At the same time, the numbers may not tell the whole story: "We found
there was a greater reluctance on the part of respondents to speak out this
year, as perhaps there was more fear of reprisal," said Vaziri. "We had higher
refusal rates to the survey and believe the chance of respondent bias is high
when Iranians when asked over the phone about their domestic political
options." Telephone penetration throughout Iran is roughly 85 percent, but is
higher in major cities than in rural areas, where it drops to about 60
percent.
Iranians may be growing wary of increased U.S. influence in the region,
including U.S. protests about the Iranian nuclear technology program," said
Vaziri. Forty-four percent of those surveyed were 'very unfavorably' inclined
towards the United States and a further 4 percent were 'somewhat' unfavorably
inclined. Only 19 percent of respondents held positive views. A similarly
large proportion of respondents (40 percent) view Iraq, the country's historic
adversary, unfavorably. By contrast, Iranians view Saudi Arabia (45 percent)
and Syria (47 percent) in a much more positive light.
The survey found Iranians overwhelmingly prefer to get their news from
local TV. Surprisingly however, radio was not the second most popular medium,
as it is in many developing countries. Instead, in Iran, newspapers prove to
be slightly more popular than radio. "Newspapers play an important role in
Iranian society," said Vaziri. "Although Iran's judiciary persists in cracking
down against editors and journalists, newspapers still tend to be a forum for
more diverse viewpoints. They are often more vocal, bolder and more partisan
than domestic television and radio in their coverage, and represent the full
political spectrum, from reformist to conservative."
Based in Washington, D.C., and London, U.K., InterMedia supports the
international media and development community by providing research,
evaluation, regional expertise and consulting services that help clients turn
public attitudes, opinions and behaviors into market intelligence and
strategic communications solutions in transitional and developing societies
worldwide.
Survey note: The survey of 2,001 adults 15 and older took place between 25
April and 9 May, 2005. Range of error with a 95 percent confidence interval is
+/- 2.19 percent.
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