A survey found that two thirds of government personnel in the national security sector, including the Department of Defense and military, do not believe that the nuclear agreement with Iran is good for American interests, Defense One reported yesterday. Significantly, 58% of those surveyed serve at a managerial level or above.

Asked to evaluate the statement “The Iran nuclear deal is a good deal for the United States,” some 66 percent of responders disagreed — and two-thirds of that group “strongly disagreed.”

The group’s outlook was even dimmer about the deal’s effect on U.S. allies. Most respondents said that it would have a somewhat or mostly negative impact on the security of Israel (71%), Saudi Arabia (67%), the Gulf Arab states (67%), Jordan (59%), Iraq (58%), and Europe (53%).

Furthermore, over three fifths of respondents said that the best approach would be for the United States to walk away from agreement.

Some 62 percent said that the U.S. would be better off simply rejecting the deal and keeping current sanctions in place.

National polls reveal similar opposition to the nuclear agreement. Last month, a CNN poll showed that 56% of voters disapprove of the deal, while a Quinnipiac University poll found that Americans opposed it by more than a 2-1 margin. A more recent Quinnipiac poll showed similar results in the critical swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

While the deal’s supporters are looking to support a filibuster of the vote to approve or reject the agreement, a poll last week showed that over 80% of Americans oppose granting Iran any sanctions relief without the approval of Congress.

[Photo: gregwest98 / Flickr ]