Latest Data: Majority of US Citizens 'Back Iran', Do Not Want War

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - A majority of American adults do not approve the decision by President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran. The finding comes from the latest poll released by CNN International and conducted by SSRS, cited on Wednesday (4 March 2026). The survey results show that 59% of respondents disagree with the initial decision to attack Iran, while 41% agree. Strong opposition (31%) is nearly double the proportion of strong support (16%).

The survey, conducted on Saturday and Sunday, was released shortly after the US and Israel strikes triggered a conflict with Iran. The poll also came after reports circulated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in the attack.

A majority of respondents also doubt Trump’s leadership in handling the crisis. 60% say he does not have a clear plan for using US military force in Iran, and 62% say the president should seek congressional approval for any further military action. On diplomacy, only 27% think the U.S. has made sufficient diplomatic efforts before using military force. Conversely, 39% think Washington has not pressed diplomacy hard enough, while 33% are unsure.

Concerning escalation, 56% of Americans view a long-term conflict between the US and Iran as at least somewhat likely, with 24% considering it very likely.

Despite 44% of respondents supporting the US effort to topple Iran’s government, 56% oppose that move. Support for deploying ground troops is much lower, with only 12% backing a ground deployment to Iran, 60% opposing, and 28% unsure. Interestingly, even though a majority of Americans in a January poll viewed Iran as unfriendly or an adversary (89%), support for military action remains low. The latest survey shows 54% view Iran as becoming a greater threat to the US as a result of this attack, while only 28% believe the strike will reduce the threat.

Even among those who support military action, around 40% remain unsure that such moves would truly reduce Iran’s threat. The findings align with CNN’s summer poll after the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which showed that support for military action tended to waver.

Domestically in the United States, the Republican Party shows the strongest support for the latest attack. 77% of Republican voters say they approve of the military action, with 32% of independents and only 18% of Democrats. 58% of Republican voters also believe the attack will reduce the threat from Iran, far above independents (21%) and Democrats (9%). In addition, 83% of Republican voters say Trump has a clear plan, while most independents (70%) and Democrats (88%) doubt it.

However, Republican voters are divided on the issue of a long-term war. 44% believe the long-term conflict may occur, while 44% believe it will not. On the question of deploying ground troops, 38% oppose, 35% are hesitant, and 27% support, though the support figure is up 11 points from last year.

Internal Republican Party split: Within the party, there is a rift between MAGA supporters and non-MAGA supporters. The MAGA group is about 30 points more likely to say they strongly agree with the military action, 34 points more likely to believe the threat from Iran will be reduced, and nearly 50 points more likely to say they strongly believe in Trump’s decision.

Meanwhile, at the broad public level, a majority of respondents across almost all demographic groups—men and women, White, Black, Latino, and all age groups—oppose military action against Iran.