Poll: Two-Thirds Say Trump Unclear on Iran War Goals

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that two-thirds of Americans believe President Donald Trump has not clearly explained the goals of U.S. military involvement in the war with Iran, even as his approval rating has edged up slightly from its lowest point this term.

The nationwide online survey of 1,254 adults, completed on Monday and carrying a 3 percentage point margin of error, found that 66 percent of respondents, including one-third of Republicans and nearly all Democrats, said Trump has failed to articulate the purpose of the conflict. The war began more than two months ago on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign. It has since cooled amid peace proposals from both sides, though Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting one-fifth of global oil trade despite U.S. naval efforts to reopen the waterway. This has driven gasoline prices up about 50 percent nationwide.

The poll highlights widespread economic strain, with 63 percent of Americans reporting that recent gas price surges have hurt their household finances, an increase from 55 percent in a March 17-19 survey. Three-quarters of the public, including half of Republicans, hold the Trump administration at least...