(CNN) -- Most Iranians support nuclear inspections, a democratic government and normal relations with the United States, a poll by a U.S.-based organization has found.

Terror Free Tomorrow found 80 percent of Iranians support full inspections and a guarantee not to develop nuclear weapons in return for aid from other countries.

Slightly more than half, however, said they still favor the development of nuclear weapons and think the country would be safer with them. Developing the weapons is considered a "very important" priority for just 29 percent of those polled.

But when presented with an option to give up nuclear weapons development in return for outside aid, only 17 percent still supported nuclear weapons development.

The economy is more important to Iranians than developing nuclear weapons. Eighty-eight percent said they want economic improvement to be the government's top priority.

The poll also found 56 percent think President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has failed to keep his campaign promise to "put oil money on the table of the people themselves."

Additionally, 61 percent of those interviewed "were willing to tell our pollsters over the phone that they oppose the current Iranian system of government, where the Supreme Leader rules according to religious principles and cannot be chosen or replaced by direct vote of the people."

Instead, 79 percent support a democratic system in which leaders are elected through free, direct elections.

And while nearly two-thirds support financial assistance for opposition groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, 55 percent of Iranians support recognizing Israel and Palestine as independent states in exchange for normal relations with the United States.

Terror Free Tomorrow, which has prominent Democrats and Republicans on its advisory board, conducted interviews in Farsi with 1,000 Iranians by telephone last month. The sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

"Face-to-face interviewing in Iran can be difficult for interviewers who risk possible prosecution and imprisonment. The last poll to ask similar controversial questions was conducted in September 2002 by Abbas Abdi inside Iran, who was imprisoned as a result," Terror Free Tomorrow said in its report on the poll.

The group said its interviews, about evenly split between men and women, were "proportionally distributed according to the population covering all 30 provinces of Iran."

The group's advisory board includes Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and the co-chairs of the 9-11 commission, Lee Hamilton, a Democrat, and Tom Kean, a Republican. The group says it was also chosen as a participant in the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative.

That's an interesting post, TF - thanks for the info.

This is part of why I think it would be a horrible idea to take military action and enact "regime change" in Iran. Iran has the potential to be changed by the people themselves, and we should provide any assistance necessary for them to do so. Taking military action could turn them against us and inadvertantly strengthen support for the current government.

i want a peanut butter and jelly sammich :)

This is part of why I think it would be a horrible idea to take military action and enact "regime change" in Iran. Iran has the potential to be changed by the people themselves, and we should provide any assistance necessary for them to do so. Taking military action could turn them against us and inadvertantly strengthen support for the current government.
That sounds logical... I admit that I don't have a lot of expertise in that area but you make a lot of sense!

I would guess that the majority of Iranians do want a more sensible government. Most people do not want a war for their country, and especially a war they know will lead to large civilain casualties in their country with little chance for any gain.
I would also guess that the majority of Iranians are not religous fanatics, and would prefer a more liberal country with more freedom to dress and behave as they wish without fear from the religous police.
In fact, I would bet that most Iranians, like most people everywhere, just want to be left alone to raise their families and live their lives.
I would also bet that most Iranians, just like most Americans, would rally to the defense of their country if it were attacked; even if they disagree with their government.
The problem with attacking other countries to change their governments is that it makes that government more popular in the short run. The same thing is true about covertly acting against such a government if you are caught.
There are no really good options for dealing with Iran right now. Choosing wisely between the bad options is the real challenge.

I guess President Ahmadinejad will launch to pit against US by economic way. He'll try to prevent dominating world economy of US doller by Iranian oil money. He will seek to attraction of enterprises. Of course, it will be very hard way, but he have very strong will, he ought to it.

I'm pretty sure that we can just subvert the entire populace of Iran into submission, especially since most of the people there, don't particularly care for the current government. No bombs necessary.

PS: that sig is funny DF. Let me guess, lolcats.com? haha

Iran is not that much different from Iraq.

You have the majority of people who want freedom and democracy but are afraid to do so in the face of sheer brutality and punishment. Just like Iraq.

"Always remember that inside every gook there is an American trying to get out." - Full Metal Jacket

Somehow i believe that when one expresses his wish for more democracy, this defenitely doesn't mean expecting "help" from the United States. Especially in case with Iran. :)