ZRS Releases September 2013 Iran Poll
First presented by ZRS (Zogby Research Services) at the 2013 Sir Bani Yas Forum, this poll represents the third nationwide survey of Iranian public opinion since Hassan Rouhani took office as president of Iran.
On August 3, 2013, Hassan Rouhani took office as president of Iran. Shortly thereafter, from August 26 to September 22, 2013, we surveyed 1,205 adults across Iran in an effort to better understand the Iranian public’s attitude toward their newly elected president—and how the views of those who supported Rouhani differ from those who opposed his election. We also wanted to learn: how Iranians rank their political priorities; their confidence in the Rouhani government’s commitment to addressing these priorities; their attitudes toward Iran’s foreign policy in the Arab World; and how they view their country’s nuclear program.
PROJECT
On August 3, 2013, Hassan Rouhani took office as president of Iran. Shortly thereafter, from August 26 to September 22, 2013, we surveyed 1,205 adults across Iran in an effort to better understand the Iranian public’s attitude toward their newly elected president—and how the views of those who supported Rouhani differ from those who opposed his election. We also wanted to learn: how Iranians rank their political priorities; their confidence in the Rouhani government’s commitment to addressing these priorities; their attitudes toward Iran’s foreign policy in the Arab World; and how they view their country’s nuclear program.
Our poll found that with Rouhani’s win Iranians, especially Rouhani supporters, have expectations that their situation will improve. Overall, our poll found that only 36% of all Iranians say they are better off now than they were five years ago, and 43% say they are worse off. But with Rouhani’s victory, 43% now expect that they will be better off during the next four years under a Rouhani administration—with 65% of Rouhani’s supporters maintaining this optimistic view of their future prospects.
One-half of Iranians say that they supported Rouhani’s victory, with the rest of our respondents saying that they either opposed him or felt that the election didn’t matter because nothing will change in their country.