68% of Americans Say Iran War Is Not Worth Fighting, Outpacing Iraq and Afghanistan
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 19
68% of Americans Say Iran War Is Not Worth Fighting, Outpacing Iraq and Afghanistan
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 19
Summary
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found 68% of Americans now say the Iran war is not worth fighting, versus 28% who say it is, just months after Trump launched it in late February.
That 40-point gap is worse than the bleakest Washington Post-ABC readings for Iraq or Afghanistan, and a separate late-April poll showed 61% already called the war a mistake in under two months.
Other measures point the same way: Quinnipiac found voters saying 45%-33% that the war has made the United States weaker, while support for striking Iran fell to 34% within three months.
Single-digit shares of Americans cite Iran or foreign wars as the country's top problem, suggesting the conflict is far less salient than Vietnam or Iraq even as troop deaths and higher gas prices add pressure on Trump.
Beyond soaring gas prices, is a global food crisis the war's most devastating and overlooked consequence?
As peace talks stall, will the world's most vital waterway permanently become an 'Iranian canal'?
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Collapse: Rising War, Economic Fallout, and Political Backlash Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Overview
The collapse of the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, originally established in April with hopes of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing sanctions, has pushed the Middle East closer to a wider conflict. Despite plans for detailed negotiations, renewed attacks on commercial vessels and diplomatic protests, such as Jordan's response to Iranian actions, have escalated tensions. This instability has also strained U.S. relations with Israel and complicated regional diplomacy, highlighting the failure of earlier agreements and increasing the risk of broader war and regional instability.