Majority of Turks see nuclear Iran as security threat

PanARMENIAN.Net - An overwhelming majority of Turks see the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons as a security threat to Turkey, according to a MetroPOLL survey conducted in September.

The MetroPOLL survey, titled “Turkey Political Situation Research,” conducted between Sept. 14 - 19 among 1,275 individuals in 27 provinces across the country, shows 60.8 percent said Iran possessing nuclear weapons is a threat to Turkey, up from 56.7 percent in January 2010, when the question was phrased similarly, but down from 68.6 percent in December 2010, when the question was phrased to inquire whether Iran possessing nuclear weapons would “be a cause of worry” for the respondent. About 30 percent said Iran's nuclear weapons would not be a threat.

Turkey's relations with Israel have been strained over the past few years. According to the survey, 36 percent of Turks want relations with Israel to normalize, while 51.3 percent said they did not necessarily think Turkey should work on repairing the relationship, Today’s Zaman reported.