Before Soleimani's death, concerns about Iran as a threat had fallen in many countries, including the U.S.
Responding to an open-ended question asking which country or group poses the greatest threat to their country in the future, just 6% of Americans named Iran in spring 2019, prior to the missile strike that killed Soleimani. This figure represents the smallest share naming Iran as America’s greatest threat since the question was first asked in 2007. That year, nearly a quarter of Americans chose Iran as the greatest threat to the country. As of 2019, Americans were much more concerned about the threats posed by China (24%), Russia (24%) and North Korea (12%).
Before Soleimani's death, concerns  | about Iran as a threat had fallen in many  | countries, including the U.S  | % who say Iran is the country or group that poses the  | the threat to their country in the future  | 50%  | 37  | 24  | 16  | 13  | 10 Lebanon  | 12  | U.S  | 2019 1 0 6 0  | Canada  | Mexico  | 0  | Kenya  | 2014  | 2007  | Note: Figures represent results of an open-ended question, where  | interviewers selected from a precoded list.  | Source: Spring 2019 Global Attitudes Survey. Q23.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 