Sixty-two percent (62%) of U.S. voters say Iran should be required to stop developing its nuclear weapons capabilities before a meeting is allowed between the Iranian president and the president of the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

This finding is up six points - from 56% - in late January just after President Obama signaled a willingness to talk to his Iranian counterpart without preconditions. A year ago, 59% agreed with the Bush administration position that Iran must stop its nuclear weapons program before direct talks were possible.

Just 23% of voters now say a meeting between the two presidents should go ahead without any preconditions, and 15% are not sure.

Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans and 60% of voters not affiliated with either major party believe Iran must first halt its nuclear weapons production. Democrats are more closely divided, with 49% favoring this precondition but 31% saying it’s not necessary.

Conservatives are nearly twice as likely as liberals to say Iran must halt its nuclear weapons program before talks between Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are possible.

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Obama last week for the first time said Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear program, provided it is for peaceful purposes only. While Iran insists its efforts are aimed at energy development, the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog agency, the United States and most of its allies believe the Islamic nation is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Nearly four-out-of-five voters believe Iran’s nuclear program is for weapons development. The majority also believe Iran is an enemy of the United States.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters say preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons is more important than preventing war between Iran and Israel. Israel has threatened to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if it continues building weapons. Forty-nine percent (49%) of Americans say the United States should help Israel if it launches an attack against Iran, but 37% believe the United States should do nothing.

Only 32% of voters believe most Islamic nations want to have a positive and peaceful relationship with the United States.

Despite the president’s speech last week in Egypt reaching out to Muslims worldwide, just 28% of voters think America’s relationship with the Muslim world will be better a year from today.

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