A new poll conducted by “Reuters/Ipsos” showed that Americans’ support for the ongoing war with Iran declined to the lowest level since its outbreak, as the percentage of those supporting the continuation of military operations reached 31%, compared to 37% in March and 34% at the beginning of August.
The poll showed that the decline was more pronounced among Republican voters, as 69% of them supported the continuation of the war, compared to 77% in March, at a time when fears are increasing about the continuation of military operations for a long period and the economic burdens that may result.
According to the results, 83% of Americans believe that the war will continue for an extended period, up from 80% at the beginning of the month, which reflects growing concern about the long duration of the conflict and the lack of an end in sight.
This coincides with increasing economic pressure on the US administration, most notably the rise in gasoline prices by more than a dollar per gallon compared to the levels that preceded the outbreak of war, which has begun to affect American families and the electoral calculations of the Republican Party before the midterm elections scheduled for November.
The poll also showed the lead of independent voters in preferring Democrats over Republicans in the congressional elections, by 33% compared to 19%, which adds a new factor to the electoral scene before the parliamentary elections.
These numbers come at a time when the administration of President Donald Trump continues to put economic pressure on Iran, with Washington announcing new punitive measures and threatening to impose additional sanctions on countries and entities that continue to deal with Tehran.
In this context, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent hinted at expanding the scope of the sanctions, while Washington has not yet moved to implement some of the more stringent measures that were previously proposed, at a time when the movement of oil exports from the region continues to be turbulent.
Declining energy flows, rising shipping costs, and risks associated with navigation are affecting fuel prices, which increases pressure on the US administration as the midterm elections approach, and makes the economic file one of the most prominent factors that political and economic circles are monitoring in the next stage.
The poll reflects a decline in the level of popular support for the war compared to the first months of the conflict, while the extent of the impact of this decline on the popularity of Trump and the Republicans remains linked to developments in the war, energy prices, and the course of the elections in the coming months.
