Americans Skeptical of U.S.-Iran War Benefits

Recent polls indicate widespread skepticism among Americans regarding the benefits of the U.S.-Iran war and the subsequent memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 24% of Americans believe the war with Iran was worth its costs, while half of the respondents said the conflict was not worth it.

The MOU, signed on June 17, aims to reopen oil and gas shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz and ease U.S.-led economic pressure on Iran. However, only 23% of Americans think the U.S. is now in a stronger position with regard to Iran than before the war. This skepticism is echoed by CBS/YouGov, which found that 57% of respondents believe the war led to more problems than it solved.

The poll results also reflect concerns about the durability of the agreement. Sixty-three percent of Americans polled by Reuters/Ipsos think it is unlikely that the MOU will lead to lasting peace between the U.S. and Iran. This sentiment is shared across party lines, with around half of Republicans and 80% of Democrats expressing doubt about the deal's potential for lasting peace.

The war and the subsequent agreement have also taken a toll on President Trump's popularity. His approval rating has dropped to 34%, tying his lowest level during his second term. The poll shows that only 17% of independent registered voters would vote for the Republican in their district if the election were held today, compared with 34% who said they would pick the Democrat.

Despite these challenges, there is some hope for economic recovery. Forty-two percent of respondents believe that gas prices will drop in the next few weeks, and a majority believe that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will return to pre-war levels. Oil prices fell to pre-war levels on Thursday as the United States said flows through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing normal, with at least 20 million barrels exiting the strait in the previous 24 hours.

However, Iran signaled it would continue to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. Its Revolutionary Guards warned vessels to stick to routes designated by Tehran and rejected newly announced shipping routes not coordinated with Iran as unacceptable and dangerous. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Gulf allies wary of Washington's preliminary accord with Tehran, emphasizing that no country has the right to charge for the use of international waterways.

The diplomatic push comes amid growing criticism at home over the Iran war. President Trump faced clashes with Senator Bill Cassidy and requested tens of billions of dollars from Congress to pay for the conflict. The Senate voted 50 to 47 to block a resolution seeking to end hostilities with Iran, a move seen as supportive of Trump.

The deal has provoked skepticism in the Middle East, where many states view it as too generous to Tehran. Washington's Gulf allies fear the reconstruction fund could help Iran rebuild its military. The agreement sets up 60 days of talks to tackle thornier issues such as Iran's nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz.