Most voters doubt the United States can count on its European allies when dealing with Iran.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 10% of Likely Voters believe that the European nations will Strongly Support the United States as it addresses the problem of Iran developing nuclear weapons capability. Another 29% expect that the Europeans will Somewhat Support the U.S. but most disagree. A total of 53% say that the European nations will not strongly support the United States. There are only modest differences along partisan and demographic lines on this question.

Americans are also fairly pessimistic when it comes to the prospects for dealing with Iran. Just 35% believe it is possible to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. That’s down slightly from 40% a year ago . Thirty-eight percent (38%) say it is not possible to prevent a nuclear Iran.

Thirty-one percent (31%) believe it is possible for diplomatic measures to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program while 40% disagree.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Republicans say it is possible to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons, but only 29% believe such an outcome is possible with diplomacy alone. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Democrats say it is possible to stop Iran, but that number increases to 37% if diplomatic means are used.

A survey earlier this year found that 40% favor using military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities.

A more recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 1% of Americans view Iran as an ally and 62% believe that nation sponsors terrorist attacks against the United States.

If Iran does acquire nuclear weapons, 31% of American voters believe it Very Likely will lead to a World War. Another 33% believe it is Somewhat Likely to lead to such a global conflict. Twenty-three percent (23%) believe it is Not Very Likely to start a World War while 5% say it is Not at All Likely to do so.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats or unaffiliated voters to believe that a nuclear Iran will lead to a World War. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Republicans consider such an outcome Very Likely. Twenty-six percent (26%) of Democrats and 27% of unaffiliated voters share that view.

While pessimistic about Iran, a separate survey released today shows that Americans are more optimistic about the broader War on Terror than they have been at any point in 2007. However, confidence this year has been lower than at any other point since Rasmussen Reports began tracking this measure on a regular basis.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Americans say they followed Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent comments on Iran Very Closely while 30% followed his remarks Somewhat Closely.

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