I recently read an article where an Iranian man, now living in America, said that American people and American culture (movies, clothes, music, etc.)  are more popular in Iran than in any Arab country.  He mentioned the average American probably is not aware of this.

So I did some research and came up with some interesting results from various surveys. The best survey I could find that directly polled Iranians was from the World Public Opinion group (full details below). For comparison purposes, I found one key survey result …

45% of Iranians had a favorable or somewhat favorable opinion of American people  (28% had a  favorable opinion of the U.S. government).

Comparing this to a 2006 Pew Global Attitudes Project Survey of other countries:
Turkey - 17% had favorable or somewhat favorable attitudes towards American people.
Pakistan - 27%
Egypt & Indonesia - 36%
Spain - 37%
Jordan - 38%
China - 49%
* Japan (82%) gave the highest results for being favorable towards Americans.
* The survey did not include Iran.

A Zogby International poll of 2006 showed foreign opinions of American people:
Jordan - 31% had a favorable opinion of Americans (not the government)
Morocco- 28%
Saudi Arabia - 18% 
Egypt - 23%
Lebanon - 44%
* The survey did not include Iran.

So the surveys would seem to indicate the average Iranian citizen does have a view of American people and American culture that is not too different, and in some cases more favorable, when compared to citizens of many other countries.

Regarding the full World Public Opinion survey, their results of an in-depth poll, asking 134 questions to 1,000 Iranians, was conducted in every province in Iran according to international survey methods. A similar poll asked the same questions to Americans.

The study released in early 2007 by WorldPublicOpinion.org is a project of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, which is a joint program of the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland and the Center on Policy Attitudes.

Results of the survey include:

* 50% of Iranians thought having movies, TV and music from around the world available in Iran is a good thing.
* 87% of Americans thought having movies, TV and music from around the world available in the USA is a good thing.

* 45% of Iranians had a somewhat or very favorable opinion of American people.
* 29% of Americans had a somewhat or very favorable opinion of Iranian people.
 
* 52% of Iranians support greater trade between the U.S. and Iran.
* 65% of Americans support greater trade between the U.S. and Iran.

* 48% of Iranians support more Americans and Iranians visiting each other as tourists.
* 51% of Americans support more Americans and Iranians visiting each other as tourists.

* 46% of Iranians support greater cultural, educational and sporting exchanges.
* 72% of Americans support greater cultural, educational and sporting exchanges.

* Looking at whether Islamic and Western religious and social traditions are incompatible with each other.
24% of Iranians believe conflict is inevitable, while 36% of Americans believe conflict is inevitable.
Roughly the same amount (54% to 56%) in each country believe it is possible to find common ground.

* 81% of Iranians are concerned about terrorist attacks in their own country.
* 95% of Americans are concerned about terrorist attacks in their own country.

* 63% of Iranians believe globalization, especially of the economy, is mostly good for Iran.
* 60% of Americans believe globalization, especially of the economy, is mostly good for the USA.

How do Iranians think of themselves?
27% - Primarily as a citizen of Iran.
62% - Primarily as a member of my religion.
4% - Primarily as a member of my ethnic group.
4% - Primarily as an individual.

How do Americans think of themselves?
49% - Primarily as a citizen of the United States.
6% - Primarily as a member of my religion.
2% - Primarily as a member of my ethnic group.
43% - Primarily as an individual.

More information and the full survey results can be found on the World Public Opinion website.