Most Iranians back nuclear program

A high percentage of Iranians are of the conviction that their country should continue to develop its nuclear energy program despite the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, a new Gallup survey reveals.

According to the poll, 68 percent of the Iranian people believe their country should go ahead with its civilian nuclear work even though the US-engineered bans have taken a heavy toll on the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, as the US and its allies claim that the sanctions are simply targeting Iran’s nuclear energy program, the study showed that it is the ordinary people who are bearing the brunt of the embargoes.

Eighty five percent of the Iranian respondents said the sanctions have hurt their own livelihoods. Half of those polled also said they had been hurt very badly.

The results are based on telephone interviews with about 4500 adults conducted between May and June.

The poll results are announced as Iran and the six world powers are set to start a new round of nuclear talks in Geneva.

The US, Israel and some of their allies claim that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear program, with Washington and the European Union having used the allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Tehran.

Tehran strongly rejects the claim over its nuclear activities, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

In addition, various reports by the IAEA verify that there has been no evidence of diversion in Iran’s nuclear material and activities towards non-civilian objectives.