Only one in four Americans believes President Donald Trump’s war with Iran was worth the cost, while most doubt a new truce with Tehran will bring lasting peace, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.
The five-day survey, which ended on Monday, found Trump’s overall approval rating had fallen to 34%, matching the lowest level of his second term. The drop comes as the administration faces criticism over the political, economic and security fallout from the Iran conflict.
The poll showed that just 24% of Americans said the war with Iran was worth its costs, while 50% said it was not. The rest were unsure.
Only 23% of respondents said the United States is now in a stronger position with Iran than it was before the war. About 35% said Washington is weaker, while others said the position was unchanged or they were unsure.
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary deal on June 17 aimed at reopening oil and gas shipping lanes disrupted by the conflict and easing U.S.-led economic pressure on Tehran.
But the poll suggested little public confidence in the agreement. About 63% of Americans said it was unlikely to produce lasting peace between the two countries. Roughly half of Republicans and eight in 10 Democrats shared that view.
Only 18% of Americans said lasting peace was likely, including 34% of Republicans and 10% of Democrats.
The war began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, which were followed by Iranian attacks that disrupted a fifth of global oil trade and damaged energy facilities belonging to U.S. allies in the region.
The June deal has helped drive down global crude prices. However, gasoline prices in the United States remain significantly higher than before the conflict began, keeping pressure on Trump over the cost of living.
The poll put Trump’s approval on cost-of-living issues at 22%, near the lowest level of his presidency and below where former President Joe Biden stood near the end of his term.
Trump won the 2024 election promising to reduce inflation and avoid costly foreign wars. His political image has also rested heavily on his reputation as a dealmaker.
The findings could deepen concerns for Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, when the party will try to defend its congressional majorities.
Among independent registered voters, only 17% said they would vote for the Republican candidate in their district if the election were held today. By comparison, 34% said they would vote for the Democrat.
Trump’s standing on immigration has also weakened. The poll found 37% of Americans approved of his handling of immigration, the lowest level of his current term and down from 40% in the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 1,262 adults across the United States and had a margin of error of three percentage points.