War weariness : Just one in four Americans say Iran conflict was it , poll finds

Just one in four Americans believes President Donald Trump's war with Iran was worth its costs, and a majority worry that the truce with Tehran is unlikely to last, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that underscores deep public skepticism about the conflict and its aftermath.

Just one in four Americans believes President Donald Trump’s war with Iran was worth its costs, and a majority worry that the truce with Tehran is unlikely to last, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that underscores deep public skepticism about the conflict and its aftermath.

The five-day poll, which closed on Monday, also showed the war weighing heavily on Trump’s popularity, with his approval rating dropping to 34 percent a return to the lowest level of the Republican’s second term, previously touched in an April survey. The decline reflects growing public discontent with the administration’s handling of the Middle East crisis, even as diplomatic efforts continue in Switzerland.

Only 23 percent of Americans including just half of Republicans think the US is now in a stronger position with Iran compared with its position before the war, the poll found. Some 35 percent of respondents believe the US is in a weaker position, while the rest said they were unsure or that the US position was about the same as before.

The findings paint a picture of a public deeply divided over the administration’s foreign policy. While the war initially garnered bipartisan support, the prolonged conflict and its economic consequences have eroded that backing. The poll’s results suggest that even as the US and Iran work toward a lasting peace, many Americans remain unconvinced that the bloodshed and expense were justified.

Concerns about the durability of the truce are also widespread, with a majority of respondents expressing doubt that the ceasefire will hold. This skepticism is well-founded, given the continued violence in southern Lebanon and the repeated violations of the ceasefire by both Israel and Hezbollah. The fragility of the peace process is a major source of anxiety for Americans who fear that the conflict could reignite at any moment.

The approval rating drop is a significant political development for Trump, who has staked much of his foreign policy legacy on the Iran deal. With the 60-day negotiating period still underway, the President faces the challenge of convincing a skeptical public that his approach will ultimately deliver lasting peace and security.

For now, the poll results serve as a reminder that even as diplomats negotiate in Switzerland, the American people are watching closely and many are not yet convinced that the war was worth it.