Nuke-armed Iran would be positive for Middle East: Arab poll

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By Mamatha

London, August 8 (ANI): For the first time, a majority of Arabs believe that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a positive for the Middle East.

Over seven out of ten Arabs participating in the Zogby International poll also said that the US poses as the biggest threat to their country.

Only 10 percent senses Iran as a threat, down from 13 percent last year.

According to the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), the poll of Arab opinion have found that for the first time a majority of the public across the region including a sizable minority in Saudi Arabia believes have favoured Iran to own nuclear bomb.

"Arabs have soured on the United States of Barack Obama," the organizers of the poll said.

"What this poll reveals is a backlash against the United States, reflecting the loss of hope that people had in what they thought were to be the policies of the new President Obama," says Shibley Telhami, a University of Maryland Middle East expert, who conducted the poll with the polling firm Zogby International, said.

In 2009, 51 percent of the public was "optimistic" about the US. This year, nearly two-thirds say they are "discouraged" about America's actions in the region.

"Arab governments are more worried about the prospects of a nuclear Iran than the publics are," Telhami added. (ANI)