Public Skepticism Deepens as US-Iran Conflict Escalates

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 1,019 adults, reveals that only 18% of the public believes the fighting will conclude within weeks. This shift in sentiment follows a resumption of US military strikes on June 26, initiated after Washington accused Tehran of targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The subsequent exchange of missile and drone fire has left the prospects for renewed negotiations increasingly dim.

Economic anxiety is compounding the political fallout. Sixty percent of respondents expect gasoline prices to climb over the coming year, while half the population views the military engagement as not worth its mounting costs. With President Trump’s approval ratings stagnating, Republican strategists are expressing concern that these inflationary pressures could jeopardize the party's control of the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.