What do Americans think about the U.S. war with Iran, and how have their opinions shifted since the conflict began?<\/p>\n
A Washington Post poll<\/a> of 1,005 Americans finds less opposition to the U.S. military actions than when they began, although more people still would prefer that the strikes stop than continue. A steady majority say the Trump administration has not clearly explained the war\u2019s goals, and most say the number of U.S. casualties \u2014 including seven service members<\/a> reported killed in action \u2014 is unacceptable. Many Americans are still making up their minds on the military campaign or hold a mix of positive and negative views about it.<\/p>\n Participants\u2019 answers have been lightly edited for clarity and style.<\/p>\n Do you support or oppose the U.S. military campaign against Iran?<\/p>\n A Post poll<\/a> shortly after the strikes began found 39 percent supported \u201cPresident Trump ordering airstrikes against Iran,\u201d while 52 percent opposed them and 9 percent were unsure. The new poll asked generally about the \u201cU.S. military campaign against Iran,\u201d finding 42 percent support it, 40 percent oppose it, and 17 percent are unsure. The absence of President Donald Trump in the new poll\u2019s question may have led more people to say they are \u201cunsure,\u201d as views about the president tend to color people\u2019s opinions of his actions and policies.<\/p>\n The overall split in support for the campaign contrasts with recent polls, which have found Americans opposing U.S. strikes 50 percent to 38 percent, according to a Post average of 10 polls since the war started. When polls have offered \u201cunsure\u201d as an option, between 7 percent and 30 percent of respondents have taken it, suggesting that opinions are still in flux less than two weeks after the military operation began.<\/p>\n Do you think the U.S. should continue military strikes against Iran, or should it stop military strikes at this time?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The latest Post poll finds a clearer shift on a second question that was asked in both surveys using identical language. The share of Americans saying the United States should \u201ccontinue military strikes against Iran\u201d grew from 25 percent to 34 percent since the first weekend of attacks. A larger 42 percent still say the U.S. should \u201cstop strikes at this time,\u201d down from 47 percent the day after the strikes began. Roughly one-quarter, 24 percent, say they are unsure, compared with 28 percent in the initial poll.<\/p>\n Among those who support the U.S. military campaign overall, 72 percent want the strikes to continue while 10 percent want them to stop and 18 percent are unsure.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Support for continuing strikes is up by double digits among Republicans, independents, women and people 65 and older. Majorities of seniors and Republicans support continuing strikes on Iran, while pluralities or majorities of independents, Democrats, women and people under age 50 want them to stop.<\/p>\n Do you think the Trump administration has clearly explained the goals of U.S. military action against Iran, or haven\u2019t they done that?<\/p>\n Just over one-third of Americans overall, 35 percent, say the Trump administration has clearly explained the goals of U.S. military action in Iran, while 65 percent say they have not. Those opinions have hardly shifted since the second day of the war<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thinking about the goals versus the costs of the war, so far has there been an acceptable or unacceptable number of U.S. military casualties?<\/p>\n The question asked in full: \u201cThinking about the goals versus the costs of the war, so far in your opinion has there been an acceptable or unacceptable number of U.S. military casualties in the conflict with Iran?\u201d<\/p>\n More than 6 in 10 Americans say the number of U.S. military casualties in the conflict has been unacceptable given the goals and costs of the war while fewer than 4 in 10 say they are acceptable. Seven U.S. service members have died, according to the Pentagon<\/a>, while about 140 have been wounded.<\/p>\n Americans are less tolerant of casualties in the Iran conflict than they were during the early days of the Iraq War two decades ago. About one week after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, 58 percent said the number of casualties was acceptable, according to Post-ABC News polls taken at the time. Acceptance of casualties fell below 40 percent after six months in which more than 300 service members had died, bottoming out at 21 percent in 2006.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Do you think U.S. military actions in Iran will or will not contribute to the long-term security of the United States?<\/p>\n By 53 percent to 46 percent, more Americans doubt that the U.S. military actions in Iran will contribute to the long-term security of the U.S. That\u2019s a more negative split than in the poll immediately after strikes started; 49 percent thought the strikes would contribute to U.S. security then, while 51 percent thought they would not. The latest Post poll asked respondents why they think the U.S. actions will or won\u2019t affect U.S. security in the long run.<\/p>\n Why will U.S. military actions in Iran contribute to the long-term security of the U.S.?<\/p>\n Iran has been a threat to U.S.\/others<\/p>\n 19%<\/p>\n Preventing nuclear threat<\/p>\n 15%<\/p>\n Demonstrating military strength<\/p>\n 9%<\/p>\n Ensuring U.S. security (general)<\/p>\n 9%<\/p>\n May hurt security\/fear retaliation<\/p>\n 8%<\/p>\n 24 percent mentioned other reasons<\/p>\n Among those who said the U.S. actions will contribute to long-term security, 19 percent cited concerns about Iran being a threat to the U.S. and others, while 15 percent mentioned concerns about the country\u2019s nuclear program specifically. Others said the campaign would demonstrate U.S. military strength or reduce terrorism. Eight percent reasoned that the U.S. strikes would contribute negatively to long-term U.S. security, indicating that not all people who selected this option view strikes as having a positive impact.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s leadership has promoted the destruction of the United States and if unstopped [their leaders] will surely try.<\/p>\n Oregon woman, 85, Republican<\/p>\n Iran has funded terrorism all over the world and has shown no signs of stopping.<\/p>\n New Jersey man, 41, independent <\/p>\n I think what\u2019s happening in Iran will make the U.S. less safe.<\/p>\n California woman, 31, Democrat<\/p>\n Why won\u2019t U.S. military actions in Iran contribute to the long-term security of the U.S.?<\/p>\n Unnecessary\/Iran was not threat<\/p>\n 19%<\/p>\n Wars are not effective\/oppose war<\/p>\n 14%<\/p>\n Concern about Iran retaliation\/terrorism<\/p>\n 14%<\/p>\n Strikes motivated by Israel\/money\/distractions<\/p>\n 9%<\/p>\n Will hurt U.S. reputaton\/alliances<\/p>\n 6%<\/p>\n Increases tension\/risks escalating<\/p>\n 6%<\/p>\n No clear reasons\/goals\/planning<\/p>\n 5%<\/p>\n 13 percent mentioned other reasons<\/p>\n Among those who said the U.S. actions will not contribute to long-term security, about 1 in 5 said that the war was unnecessary or that Iran was not a threat, the largest single response. About 1 in 7 said war was not effective \u2014 with some drawing comparisons to previous Middle East wars \u2014 while the same share cited concern about retaliation from Iran or terrorist acts. Others reasoned that the strikes were motivated by issues other than U.S. security, worried that the strikes will damage America\u2019s reputation or cited a lack of clear reasons for the strikes.<\/p>\n There was no imminent threat from Iran.<\/p>\n Illinois woman, 43, independent<\/p>\n War does not appear to stop terrorists or authoritarian dictatorships.<\/p>\n Virginia woman, 79, Democrat<\/p>\n The U.S. is creating global instability and conflict.<\/p>\n California man, 54, independent<\/p>\n About this story<\/p>\n This Washington Post poll<\/a> was conducted online and by phone March 6-9, 2026, among a random national sample of 1,005 adults. The sample was drawn through SSRS\u2019s Opinion Panel, an ongoing survey panel recruited through random sampling of U.S. households. The sample was weighted to match U.S. population demographics, partisanship and civic engagement. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, including design effects due to weighting. Sampling, data collection and tabulation was conducted by SSRS of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Details on the March 1 Post poll<\/a> are available here.<\/p>\n Open-ended responses were combined and coded by BTInsights, an AI open-end coding software that sorted responses into similar categories. Each response was then reviewed by Post polling staff to ensure it was accurately categorized and recategorized. Some categories were combined or renamed after a review of all codes.<\/p>\n Analysis by Scott Clement and Isabelle Gibson. Development by Irfan Uraizee and Eric Lau. Design by Shikha Subramaniam. Editing by Maureen Linke and Noah Bierman. 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