U.S. poll: Iran still dangerous

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A new poll suggested that a majority of U.S. voters don't believe the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate finding that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program.

The telephone poll of 800 likely voters, conducted Sunday-Wednesday, found 69 percent of respondents said they believe Iran is actively seeking to create nuclear weapons, The Israel Project, an Israeli advocacy group that commissioned the poll, reported Friday.

The poll suggested that 75 percent of likely voters in the United States have heard a "great deal" or "some" about the NIE report, but 27 percent agree with its conclusion that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Sixty-four percent of those polled expressed fears that the United States "will be less safe" due to the estimate "because it might lead to reduced pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear capacity for good."

In contrast, only 27 percent said they believe "we are more safe" after the estimate "because it shows the threat from Iran is not as imminent as had been believed."