WarSclerotic

Despite efforts in recent weeks by U.S. President Barack Obama to persuade the American public that the nuclear deal signed with Iran on Nov. 24 is a success, more Americans disapprove than approve of it, according to new poll released Tuesday.

A new Pew Research Center/USA Today survey shows that 43 percent of the American public disapproves of the nuclear agreement with Iran, compared to 32% who approve of it. Twenty-five percent said they do not have an opinion.

According to the survey, Americans are still deeply unconvinced that the Iranian government is committed to addressing the world’s concerns over its nuclear program: Some 62% of Americans believe that Iranian leaders are “not serious” about addressing those concerns, while only 29% are confident that the Islamic republic’s leaders are serious about reaching a long-term agreement.

Opinions expressed in the poll fell largely along party lines, with 58% of Republicans disapproving of the deal and 27% of Democrats voicing the same opinion. Only 14% of Republicans approve of the plan, compared to 50% of Democrats.

Those surveyed split on how Obama is handling Iran: Some 39% approve of his policies, while 44% disapprove — an improvement from just before the interim accord was announced. In early November, Americans disapproved by 53% to 37%.

Many Americans are not paying much attention to the issue. About one in four said they have heard a lot about the agreement, but another one in four say they have heard nothing at all. Half said they have heard a little.

The survey of 2,001 adults was conducted between Dec. 3 and Dec. 8 and has a total margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.

Meanwhile, in his first congressional testimony since last month’s Geneva agreement, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended the deal, saying that diplomacy halted and rolled back central elements of Iran’s nuclear program for the first time. He pleaded with Democrats and Republicans alike not to scuttle the chances of a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Iran on Tuesday dismissed an offer from President Shimon Peres to meet his Iranian counterpart as a propaganda ploy.

“This propaganda to help the regime [Israel] out of isolation will prove fruitless,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told reporters.