As EU Foreign Ministers are to meet Monday in Brussels to adopt new tougher measures against Iran, a new poll among respondents in France, Germany and Sweden shows overwhelming opposition to Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons.
According to this poll, commissioned by ‘The Israel Project ‘, an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel, 80 percent of respondents in France, 83 percent in Germany and 90 percent in Sweden believe that the international community should prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
France is primarily concerned by Iranian missiles that may be able to reach Europe or the United States, Sweden by Iran’s arming and funding of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and Germany by the Iranian government''s statements that it wants to wipe Israel off the map.
A two-thirds majority in Germany supports the EU developing even stronger sanctions on top of the recently passed UN round.
France rises to 70 percent support and Sweden even higher to 78 percent support for additional stronger sanctions. However, few in Germany (23 percent) and Sweden (28 percent) think the sanctions will work. France polled higher, with 53 percent thinking it is likely or somewhat likely that sanctions and diplomacy can prevent Iran’s development of nuclear capabilities.
Majorities in France and Germany support further expanding international sanctions, including halting the purchase of oil from Iran, even if it increases the cost of fuel in their countries, and Sweden supports the same initiative at 71 percent. A majority in each country also supports European countries ending subsidies for companies doing business with Iran.
Stan Greenberg, CEO of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, who conducted the survey commented: “These poll results provide strong confirmation for U.N. sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program. The publics in these countries are fearful of a Middle East arms race and threats to wipe Israel off the map. As a result, these European countries are ready for even stronger sanctions if necessary.”