A poll released Tuesday by CNN and SSRS found that 64 percent of Americans believe the United States is not winning the ongoing war in Iran. The survey of 1,206 respondents, conducted Sept. 16-17, also indicated that 78 percent of participants feel President Trump is not doing enough to end the conflict, while three-quarters said he lacks a clear plan for handling the war.
The conflict has passed the six-month mark despite initial statements from President Trump that it would conclude in approximately one month. A two-week ceasefire was previously reached on April 7, though hostilities continued as the United States and Israel conducted operations. Most recently, President Trump stated on Thursday that he was weighing whether to "annihilate" the Iranian regime, calling it a "big decision."
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the cost of the war has risen to an estimated $2 billion per month. In response to the conflict's progression, the House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution last week to limit the president's military actions. The measure saw an increase in Republican support, rising from four to seven votes in favor compared to previous similar resolutions.
The war has also resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Reports indicate that more than 1,700 Iranian civilians, including 254 children, have been killed, while 13 American families have lost loved ones in the conflict. Additionally, millions of people in Iran and neighboring Arab countries have been displaced from their homes. The International Energy Agency has characterized the resulting global energy crisis as more severe than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined, due to the removal of 10 percent of the world's oil supply from the market.
Domestic political shifts are also appearing as the war continues toward the November midterm elections. While attitudes among Democrats and independents have remained steady, Republican approval of President Trump's handling of the war dropped 13 points since March, falling to 60 percent. Only about half of Republicans now believe the president's decisions have improved the U.S. standing in the world, also a 13-point decline since March. President Trump recently stated he believes the war will end "immediately" after the upcoming midterm elections.