The Iranian people should chose who leads Iran
Democrats84%
Republicans70%
Independents73%
Source: The Economist/YouGov, Mar. 17, 2026
Chart: Americans Agree
Chart: Americans Agree
Who Should Choose Iranian Leader
The Economist/YouGov, Mar. 17, 2026
Details
| Question | Who should decide who leads Iran? |
| Response | The Iranian people |
| Poll Main Page | The Economist/YouGov Poll, March 13-16, 2026 |
| Interview Period | Mar. 13, 2026 to Mar. 16, 2026 |
| Sample Size | 1,595 |
| Policy Context | When this poll was conducted in March 2026, the United States and Israel had attacked Iran, killing its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. President Trump later said, “I have to be involved in the appointment [of Khamenei’s successor], like with Delcy in Venezuela.” He was referring to Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power in January 2026 after U.S. forces seized the previous Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and brought him to the United States on drug trafficking charges. |