With tensions rising between Washington and Tehran amid comments from US leaders that Iran risks being attacked over its alleged nuclear weapons program, more Americans also said they backed tighter sanctions on the Iran regime than were opposed.
But a large majority said they don’t know enough about the situation to give an opinion about sanctions.
The Gallup poll of 1,000 adults, carried out over October 25-28, showed 35 percent of people see Iran as the biggest threat to world stability.
Nineteen percent ranked China the main threat, while North Korea ran third at 10 percent and Iraq fourth at nine percent.
Eight percent of those polled saw the United States itself the greatest threat, while Russia was singled out by only four percent.
Iran was ranked the top threat ahead of China by Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
But while half of Republicans ranked Iran the biggest threat, and 18 percent cited China, only 26 percent of Democrats cited Iran first, and 22 percent cited China.
On the new economic sanctions on Iranian institutions announced last week by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 34 percent said they were in support while nine percent said they opposed them.
But 57 percent told pollsters that they did not know enough about the situation to make a judgement.
When it came to the current US presidential race and international affairs, all groups said the most important thing they wanted to hear about from the candidates policy-wise was the Iraq war, with Iran a close second.
In recent debates by both Democrat and Republican candidates the row with Iran has moved to the forefront amid belligerent statements from President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney about possible repercussions if Tehran refuses to halt its nuclear program.
On Iraq, 87 percent of those polled said it was very important for candidates to detail their approach, and 80 percent said the same on Iran.
On the other end, only 23 percent said they considered it important to know a candidate’s approach to Venezuela or Cuba, two countries which the Bush administration has highlighted as enemies of the United States.
The poll had a four percent margin of error.
