The U.S. government recently imposed a raft of new economic sanctions against Iran that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says are a response both to Iran's refusal to stop enriching uranium and to its interference in Iraq.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that only 7% believe that the sanctions are Very Likely to force Iran to scuttle its nuclear program. Little more than a quarter (27%) think the sanctions are Somewhat Likely to do so.

But 60% of American voters are more pessimistic, with 43% saying such a positive outcome is Not Very Likely, and 17% that it's not likely at all.

Most respondents have followed news of the development—39% Very Closely, 41% Somewhat Closely.

About two thirds (67%) are convinced that despite the Iranian government's protestations to the contrary, its nuclear program is intended to develop nuclear weapons rather than nuclear energy.

As tense as the situation with Iran may be, most (55%) think the war in Iraq will loom larger in the next presidential election.

Yet just two percent fewer (53%) think war between the U.S. and Iran is at least Somewhat Likely to break out during the next year; 38% disagree. The pessimism may be fostered by the fact that most voters believe the U.S. can't expect much backup from European nations in dealing with Iran.

While there is much bipartisan accord in the new poll, Republicans (81%) are more likely than Democrats (56%) to believe the point of Iran's nuclear program is to develop nukes, not a source of electricity.

Democrats (25%) are about twice as likely as Republicans (13%) to say that war between the U.S. and Iran is Very Likely to erupt within a year. According to the previous survey, Republicans are more likely than Democrats or unaffiliated voters to believe that if Iran does go nuclear, not only war but world war is a likely consequence.

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