Over 40 percent of those polled in Middle Eastern countries favored the diplomatic track as the best way to solve the conflict.
In Britain, support for severe action against Iran dropped to 34 percent, down from 43 percent in 2006, and a similar decline was reported in Australia and Germany. All in all, only nine percent support a military operation against the Islamic Republic worldwide.
The United States and South Korea were the only countries in which respondents favored tougher action against Iran.
Support for such measures has dropped 10 points in Australia (52 per cent to 42 per cent), nine points in Britain (43 per cent to 34 per cent), nine points in Germany (46 per cent to 37 per cent), seven points in Canada (52 per cent to 45 per cent) and six points in the United States (66 per cent to 60 per cent).
Only three countries show an increase in support for economic sanctions or military strikes: an increase of nine points among Israelis (62 per cent to 71 per cent), six points among South Koreans (47 per cent to 53 per cent), and 12 points among Turkish respondents (21 per cent to 33 per cent).
The poll was conducted following news of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate that found Iran had stopped pursuing nuclear weapons in 2003.
