A new CNN poll shows most Americans are not on board with the latest U.S. strikes on Iran, and many believe this conflict could stretch far beyond a short-term military operation.
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans, 59%, disapprove of the decision to take military action in Iran, according to a CNN survey conducted by SSRS. Only 41% approve. Strong disapproval stands at 31%, almost double the 16% who strongly approve.
At the same time, 56% say a long-term military conflict between the U.S. and Iran is at least somewhat likely. That includes 24% who believe it is very likely.
When asked how long the war might last, Donald Trump said Monday, “I don’t want to see it go on too long. I always thought it would be four weeks. And we’re a little ahead of schedule.”
Still, confidence in the president’s strategy appears shaky. Sixty percent of respondents say they do not believe Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation. Additionally, 62% think he should seek congressional approval before taking any further military action.
Diplomacy is another sticking point. Just 27% feel the U.S. made enough of an effort to resolve tensions with Iran before using force. Meanwhile, 39% say the country did not try hard enough at diplomacy, and 33% remain unsure.
Although 44% support efforts to overthrow the Iranian government, most Americans draw a hard line at boots on the ground. Only 12% favor sending U.S. ground troops into Iran. Sixty percent oppose that move, and 28% are undecided.
The poll also suggests many Americans doubt the strikes will reduce future threats. Fifty-four percent believe Iran will become more of a threat because of the military action. Just 28% think it will make Iran less dangerous.
Partisan differences are clear. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans approve of the strikes, compared with 32% of independents and 18% of Democrats. Within the Republican Party, those aligned with the “Make America Great Again” movement show significantly stronger approval and higher trust in Trump’s decisions on the use of force.
The poll was conducted February 28 and March 1 among 1,004 adults nationwide, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
