Most Americans say there was not sufficient reason to start war in Iran: Polls

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All four polls were fielded after the initial brokered ceasefire was announced on April 7. A Marquette Law School poll found that a 63% majority of Americans said there were not sufficient reasons to launch airstrikes against Iran. While most Republicans (71%) said there was a sufficient reason, 94% of Democrats and 75% of independents said there was not enough reason. And a Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 26% saying the U.S. military action in Iran has been worth it. Additionally, the poll found 60% of Americans disapproving of the U.S. military strikes against Iran with 36% approving.  A CNBC poll found 64% of registered voters said the Iran war was not worth it when factoring in either the financial cost to the nation or the increase in gas prices. Seven in 10 said it wasn’t worth it when factoring in the number of U.S. military casualties. But 53% said it was worth it considering it disrupted Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.  U.S. forces support blockade operations against Iran.U.S. Central Command/X Just a quarter of Americans said in the Reuters/Ipsos poll that the U.S. strikes in Iran would make the U.S. safer. Roughly half said it would make America less safe. The CNBC poll found similar results: 48% of voters said they feel less safe because of the war with Iran and 30% said they feel safer.   While the Marquette poll found 75% of Americans approving of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, just 21% of Americans said the U.S. achieved its goals in the war. A 78% majority said the United States’ goals have not been met. Nearly all Democrats (94%) said the goals have not been achieved, along with 78% of independents and 64% of Republicans.  Over two-thirds of Americans, 68%, disapprove of the way President Donald Trump has handled the war, according to the Marquette poll. Just 32% approve. An AP-NORC poll conducted April 16-20 found virtually identical figures, with 67% disapproving of how Trump was handling Iran and 32% approving. And the CNBC poll found 62% of registered voters disapproving of how Trump was dealing with Iran.  A nearly universal 96% of Democrats along with 82% of independents disapprove of how Trump is handling the war, while 65% of Republicans approve, according to Marquette. Opposition to the attack on Iran does not translate into support for Iran though: A 73% majority of Americans hold unfavorable views of Iran, while just 12% hold favorable views, according to Marquette. Majorities across partisan groups are unfavorable of Iran, including nearly 9 in 10 Republicans, as well as about 6 in 10 independents and Democrats.  President Donald Trump departs after speaking at an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, April 21, 2026, in Washington.Daniel Heuer/EPA/ShutterstockConsistent with other polling, a growing share of Americans have an unfavorable view of America’s partner in the war on Iran, Israel. According to Marquette, 54% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 43% in March 2025. Currently, 33% say they have a favorable view of Israel. While nearly 6 in 10 Republicans are favorable of Israel, just over half of independents and nearly three-quarters of Democrats are unfavorable.  Trump has threatened to bomb bridges and power plants in Iran. The Marquette poll found 62% of Americans said bridges and power plants are civilian infrastructure and should not be attacked, while 38% said they are legitimate military targets.  That same poll found a wide partisan gap on bombing Iran’s bridges and power plants. While 88% of Democrats and 70% of independents said bridges and power plants are civilian infrastructure and should not be attacked, 66% of Republicans said they are legitimate military targets. Overall, Marquette finds 68% of Americans opposed to Trump using the military to force change in other countries. Moreover, 60% of Americans said the United States is causing instability in the world, while 39% said it is a force for stability. Most Americans still want the country to take part in global relations: 57% of Americans said it is better for the future of America to take an active part in world affairs, while 43% said it is better to stay out of world affairs. AH-64 Apaches fly above the Strait of Hormuz during a patrol, April 17, 2026.U.S. Central Command/XAn increasing share of Republicans say the U.S. should be active in the world, 68% in the current Marquette poll, up from 55% in February 2025.  Independents have declined in their desire for the U.S. to be more active internationally over the same time, from 54% in 2025 to 32% now. Democrats, who have consistently been more supportive of the U.S. taking an active role since 2022 have fallen from 71% in February 2025 to 54% today. The Marquette Law School poll was conducted April 8-16 among 982 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted April 15-20 among 4,557 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points.  The AP-NORC poll was conducted April 16-20 among 2,596 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. The CNBC All-America Economic Survey was conducted April 15-19 among 1,000 registered voters and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. ABC News' Elizabeth Schreier contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events A series of recent polls found a consistent verdict: most Americans said there were not sufficient reasons to start the war in Iran – with most disapproving of the military strikes and that it hasn’t made them any safer while few said the military action has been worth it or that it would make the U.S. safer. All four polls were fielded after the initial brokered ceasefire was announced on April 7. A Marquette Law School poll found that a 63% majority of Americans said there were not sufficient reasons to launch airstrikes against Iran. While most Republicans (71%) said there was a sufficient reason, 94% of Democrats and 75% of independents said there was not enough reason. And a Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 26% saying the U.S. military action in Iran has been worth it. Additionally, the poll found 60% of Americans disapproving of the U.S. military strikes against Iran with 36% approving.  A CNBC poll found 64% of registered voters said the Iran war was not worth it when factoring in either the financial cost to the nation or the increase in gas prices. Seven in 10 said it wasn’t worth it when factoring in the number of U.S. military casualties. But 53% said it was worth it considering it disrupted Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.  Just a quarter of Americans said in the Reuters/Ipsos poll that the U.S. strikes in Iran would make the U.S. safer. Roughly half said it would make America less safe. The CNBC poll found similar results: 48% of voters said they feel less safe because of the war with Iran and 30% said they feel safer.   While the Marquette poll found 75% of Americans approving of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, just 21% of Americans said the U.S. achieved its goals in the war. A 78% majority said the United States’ goals have not been met. Nearly all Democrats (94%) said the goals have not been achieved, along with 78% of independents and 64% of Republicans.  Over two-thirds of Americans, 68%, disapprove of the way President Donald Trump has handled the war, according to the Marquette poll. Just 32% approve. An AP-NORC poll conducted April 16-20 found virtually identical figures, with 67% disapproving of how Trump was handling Iran and 32% approving. And the CNBC poll found 62% of registered voters disapproving of how Trump was dealing with Iran.  A nearly universal 96% of Democrats along with 82% of independents disapprove of how Trump is handling the war, while 65% of Republicans approve, according to Marquette. Opposition to the attack on Iran does not translate into support for Iran though: A 73% majority of Americans hold unfavorable views of Iran, while just 12% hold favorable views, according to Marquette. Majorities across partisan groups are unfavorable of Iran, including nearly 9 in 10 Republicans, as well as about 6 in 10 independents and Democrats.  Consistent with other polling, a growing share of Americans have an unfavorable view of America’s partner in the war on Iran, Israel. According to Marquette, 54% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 43% in March 2025. Currently, 33% say they have a favorable view of Israel. While nearly 6 in 10 Republicans are favorable of Israel, just over half of independents and nearly three-quarters of Democrats are unfavorable.  Trump has threatened to bomb bridges and power plants in Iran. The Marquette poll found 62% of Americans said bridges and power plants are civilian infrastructure and should not be attacked, while 38% said they are legitimate military targets.  That same poll found a wide partisan gap on bombing Iran’s bridges and power plants. While 88% of Democrats and 70% of independents said bridges and power plants are civilian infrastructure and should not be attacked, 66% of Republicans said they are legitimate military targets. Overall, Marquette finds 68% of Americans opposed to Trump using the military to force change in other countries. Moreover, 60% of Americans said the United States is causing instability in the world, while 39% said it is a force for stability. Most Americans still want the country to take part in global relations: 57% of Americans said it is better for the future of America to take an active part in world affairs, while 43% said it is better to stay out of world affairs. An increasing share of Republicans say the U.S. should be active in the world, 68% in the current Marquette poll, up from 55% in February 2025.  Independents have declined in their desire for the U.S. to be more active internationally over the same time, from 54% in 2025 to 32% now. Democrats, who have consistently been more supportive of the U.S. taking an active role since 2022 have fallen from 71% in February 2025 to 54% today. The Marquette Law School poll was conducted April 8-16 among 982 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted April 15-20 among 4,557 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points.  The AP-NORC poll was conducted April 16-20 among 2,596 U.S. adults and has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. The CNBC All-America Economic Survey was conducted April 15-19 among 1,000 registered voters and has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. ABC News' Elizabeth Schreier contributed to this report.