Most Americans disapprove of US strikes on Iran, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS following recent US and Israeli military action.
The survey found that nearly six in 10 Americans oppose the decision to launch strikes. A majority also believe a long-term conflict between the two countries is likely.
The CNN poll shows 59% disapprove of the initial decision to strike Iran, while 41% approve. Strong disapproval outweighs strong approval by a wide margin.
In addition, 60% say President Donald Trump does not have a clear plan for handling the situation. Meanwhile, 62% believe he should seek congressional approval before taking further military action.
Only 27% think the US made enough diplomatic efforts before using force. A larger share says diplomacy was insufficient or remains unsure.
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of the US decision to take military action in Iran, according to a new CNN poll. CNN's David Chalian explains how Americans are currently feeling about the war with Iran. pic.twitter.com/LOBTS3wnQv
— CNN (@CNN) March 2, 2026Public support drops further when it comes to escalation options. While 44% say they favour attempting to overthrow the Iranian government, 56% oppose that idea. Support for deploying US ground troops is significantly lower, with just 12% backing such a move and a clear majority opposed.
More than half of respondents say a long-term military conflict is at least somewhat likely, including a sizeable portion who view it as very likely.
Read: Spain Refuses US Bases for Iran Strikes, Citing Sovereignty and UN Charter
Republicans are far more likely to approve of the strikes compared with independents and Democrats. They are also more likely to believe the action will reduce the threat posed by Iran.
CNN also reports divisions within the Republican Party itself, particularly between MAGA and non-MAGA voters, linked to trust in Trump’s leadership on military decisions.
A separate Reuters/Ipsos poll found similar trends, with more Americans disapproving than approving of the strikes. That survey also found that a majority believe Trump is too willing to use military force to advance US interests.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,282 US adults online and reported a margin of error of three percentage points.
