Pakistan only country where majority views Iran positively: PEW

Published June 24, 2015
PM Nawaz Sharif shakes hand with Iran President Hassan Rouhani.— AP/File
PM Nawaz Sharif shakes hand with Iran President Hassan Rouhani.— AP/File

According to a new PEW survey, Pakistan is the only country polled where a majority (57%) views Iran— the country with the world's largest Shia Muslim population— favourably.

The survey comes at a time when the deadline for Iran’s nuclear programme negotiations is approaching (June 30) and Iran’s incumbent president— Hassan Rouhani— is about to complete two years in office. On the whole, the survey concludes that an overwhelming majority of countries— 31 out of 40— view Iran unfavourably.

Countries other than Pakistan where a greater percentage of people view Iran as favourable include Ghana (44%), Vietnam (42%), and Ethiopia (27%).

Source: Spring 2015 Global Attitudes survey. Q12c. PEW Research Center
Source: Spring 2015 Global Attitudes survey. Q12c. PEW Research Center

Countries in the Middle East have a particularly unfavourable view of Iran, with Israel topping the list, followed closely by Jordan. In Lebanon however, voting patterns diverge along religious lines, with 95% of Lebanese Shia holding favourable views of Iran but only 5% of Sunni Muslims and 29% of Christians in the country view Iran positively.

The survey also notes that over the past few years, Iran’s perception has deteriorated in Muslim-majority countries, even in Pakistan, where most still view Iran positively.

Meanwhile, Iran’s president is also seen negatively in Middle East countries, with an average of 58% viewing him as unfavourable.

Opinion

Editorial

Caught in between
Updated 13 Apr, 2025

Caught in between

In the absence of a trade agreement, under WTO rules, Pakistan cannot reduce duty rates for the US without doing the same for other countries.
Spirit of giving
13 Apr, 2025

Spirit of giving

THE recent declaration by ulema affirming that organ donation after death is not only permissible but an act of...
Targeting dissent
13 Apr, 2025

Targeting dissent

THE recent notice sent by the FIA to former senator Farhatullah Babar is deeply troubling — and revealing....
Stranded Afghans
Updated 12 Apr, 2025

Stranded Afghans

It is both unfair and dangerous that Afghan people’s immediate well-being has been left entirely to Pakistan to consider.
Peaceful protest
12 Apr, 2025

Peaceful protest

A CONCLAVE of local divines that had gathered in Islamabad on Thursday have made two important points: firstly, that...
Squash hopes
12 Apr, 2025

Squash hopes

IT was a monumental triumph: Noor Zaman came back from the brink to clinch the Under-23 World Squash Championships...