Twice as many MAGA Republicans favor regime change in Iran than those who want a negotiated settlement: poll

Americans are nearly evenly split between favoring Iranian regime change and a negotiated U.S.settlement with Iran, according to a new survey. Some 39% of respondents favor a negotiated settlement where Iran’s current government remains in place, with verifiable limits on its nuclear and missile programs, according to the findings of the Reagan Institute Summer Survey, while 36% favor replacing Iran’s current government with one more favorable to the U.S. Another 16% favor a weakened regime where the current government stays in place but is significantly diminished militarily and economically, and 8% responded that they don’t know. The findings underscore the political challenge facing President Donald Trump as his administration pursues a newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran.

While the agreement seeks to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions through negotiations, Americans remain divided over the ultimate objective of U.S.policy toward the Islamic Republic.Republicans who responded to the survey favored replacing Iran’s government by a 2-to-1 margin over a diplomatic deal. Republicans were far more likely than Democrats to favor a more aggressive outcome in Iran.

Half of Republican respondents said they would prefer to see Iran’s current government replaced with one more favorable to the United States, compared to 25% who said they would favor a negotiated settlement that leaves the regime in place in exchange for verifiable limits on its nuclear and missile programs.The findings were nearly identical among self-identified MAGA Republicans, 51% of whom favored regime change while 25% backed a negotiated settlement.Democrats, meanwhile, largely favored diplomacy.A majority, 52%, said they would prefer a negotiated settlement with Iran’s current government, while 25% favored regime change.

Another 14% favored leaving the regime in place but significantly weakened militarily and economically.The Reagan Institute Summer Survey was conducte...