With tensions heating up in the Middle East, Americans are wondering whether the United States will get more involved in the current military hostilities between Israel and Iran.
Israel began pummeling Iran with airstrikes against its nuclear facilities last week. It has decimated much of the nation’s nuclear capabilities while eliminating key members of its military leadership.
The war of words has also been ominous, with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump intimating that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei might be targeted for death. Meanwhile, Iran has launched a series of counterattacks against Israel.
These developments have raised questions about the role America’s military might play in this conflict. Trump appears open to the possibility of engaging further in the war to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb.
But how does America feel about such a proposition?
The findings of a new Economist/YouGov poll suggest that most are not enthused about the idea of sending US troops to fight against Iran. Researchers found that only 16 percent would support such a move, while 60 percent opposed it. About 24 percent said they are “unsure” about the idea.
60% of Americans oppose US involvement in Israel’s war with Iran, while only 16% support it, a June 13-16 poll has found.
— AF Post (@AFpost) June 17, 2025
If Trump were to lead the US into a war with Iran, his poll numbers would collapse and Republicans would almost certainly lose their majority in both… pic.twitter.com/MfsrZKpOMG
These findings, if accurate, suggest a wholesale rejection of going to war in Iran. Given the war fatigue resulting from the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan, these results are less than shocking. However, this does not mean that Americans oppose all involvement in the conflict. When it comes to negotiations with Iran about its nuclear program, 56 percent of respondents supported the notion, with only 29 percent opposing it.
The poll’s other findings are also interesting. It revealed that 69 percent of the public believes Iran is an enemy to the United States, with 18 percent characterizing it as “unfriendly but not an enemy.” An uninformed two percent believe Iran is friendly to the US.
The conflict centers on Iran’s alleged pursuit of a nuclear bomb. The regime claims its nuclear endeavors are purely for civilian energy. But most aren’t buying it. About 56 percent believe Iran is actively trying to develop nuclear weapons with only seven percent believing the regime’s denials. A third (37 percent) are unsure about Iran’s intentions.
To sum it up, most American believe that Iran’s government is both dangerous and untrustworthy. They believe that the regime is dead set on acquiring nuclear capabilities that could threaten Israel or even the United States.
Still, Americans are overwhelmingly against the idea of deploying troops to the region and prefer that the Trump administration rely more on negotiations and diplomacy. The president appears to favor this approach more than military action. He has been trying to leverage Israel’s strikes to push Iran to come back to the negotiating table.
Iran has signaled that it would be open to resuming discussion on its nuclear program if the US does not become more involved in the military conflict. But at this point, it is difficult to determine how this will all shake out.
If Trump were to take military action against Iran, it could become an issue for Republicans in the midterm elections — especially if the results are similar to what happened in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Still, if Trump manages to defy history and avoid producing a negative result in Iran, it might work in the GOP’s favor. Given what has happened in the past, this outcome is not likely — but it is not impossible.
