Here's How Americans Are Feeling About the Iran MOU

Americans are split on a US-Iran deal that many see as tilting toward Tehran, the Hill reports. A new CBS News/YouGov poll finds 37% of respondents say the memorandum of understanding benefits Iran more, while 22% say the US comes out ahead; 47% view it as evenly balanced. The 14-point pact reopened the Strait of Hormuz, began lifting US sanctions, freed frozen Iranian assets, and secured a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Iran said Saturday it had closed the strait again in response to fighting in Lebanon, a claim the US disputes, the AP reports.

Two-thirds of those surveyed believe the Trump administration signed the deal to end the conflict, but only about a third think that goal has been met. Majorities say the US has not stopped Iran from threatening neighbors or permanently halted its nuclear ambitions. Still, 78% want to end the fighting rather than push for further concessions. The poll of 2,519 adults has a 2.4-point margin of error. The poll was released as high-level talks in Switzerland ended early Monday, the AP reports; technical negotiations will continue the rest of the week. Former Vice President Mike Pence was among those criticizing the MOU, the Hill reports; in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Pence called it "a plan to make a plan" rather than an actual deal. (The talks got off to a contentious start.)