Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2010

Saudi Public Backs Iran Sanctions but Split on Military Action

David Pollock

January 2010

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

A highly unusual and credible private poll of Saudi citizens taken in late November 2009 by a reputable regional firm shows solid popular support for tough measures against Iran, even though domestic economic issues loom larger in the public's perception. Conducted in partnership with Pechter Middle East Polls, a new, Princeton-based research organization, the survey involved face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of 1,000 Saudi citizens in the major metropolitan areas of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam/al-Khobar.