The American public supports U.S. military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, if diplomacy fails, according to two major polls.

The Pew Research Center reported Tuesday that about six in 10 Americans support a military strike if nuclear negotiations break down. A majority of Independents, Democrats and Republicans share this view. Pew's survey echoes a Fox News poll last week.

In short, the U.S. mainstream is cautiously hawkish on Iran. But Americans do not believe the time for force is now. About six in 10 Americans still back direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Here too, however, Americans want a firm hand. Three quarters of Americans support "tougher" sanctions against Iran, Pew reports.

Tougher, that is, because Americans believe the time for talking will end. Pew found that 64 percent of Americans say that negotiations will not alone convince Iran to give up its nuclear program, also mimicking Fox's poll results last week.

As I wrote yesterday, Americans have come expect the worst from Iran. And as Iran moves toward the bomb, it cannot count on American war fatigue. At some point, President Obama may feel broad public pressure to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. The feasibility of delaying Iran's nuclear program by force is, of course, another matter.

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