Most Americans Say Iran War Not Worth Fighting, Poll Shows

A clear majority of Americans now say the war with Iran has not been worth fighting, according to a new national poll that shows public skepticism deepening as the conflict enters its sixth month. The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from July 23 to 27, found 64 percent of U.S. adults believe the war has not been worthwhile, while 33 percent say it has. The findings arrive amid a prolonged military engagement that has resulted in the deaths of 18 American service members since hostilities began on February 28.

Public approval of President Donald Trump’s handling of the situation has also declined. Just 28 percent of adults now approve of his approach to Iran, down from 34 percent in June. Support has also softened within his own party, with 61 percent of Republicans expressing approval, a decrease from 71 percent the previous month. Pollsters noted the margin of sampling error for Republicans is 6 percentage points, making the decline a modest one. Trump’s overall job approval rating stands at 33 percent.

The poll reveals a public increasingly focused on the domestic economic consequences of the war. Seventy-two percent of...