Majority of Americans Do Not Approve of Trump's Attacks Against Iran

Only one in four Americans approves of the attacks carried out by the Trump administration and Israel against Iran, while more than half believe the president is "too willing" to resort to military solutions. These are the findings of a Reuters/Ipsos poll that reflects growing concerns over U.S. military casualties and the economic impact of the Republican magnate's latest military venture.

Overall, 43% of respondents said they disapprove of the attacks, 27% approved, and 29% said they were unsure. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed stated they believe Trump — who has ordered strikes in Venezuela, Syria, Nigeria, and Iran in recent months, in addition to issuing threats against other nations including Cuba — is "too willing" to use military force to advance American interests.

That view is shared by 87% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans, and 60% of independents.

The Weight of American Casualties and the Economy

The poll, which carries a margin of error of three percentage points, gathered online responses from 1,282 adults across the country and closed before the U.S. military acknowledged its first casualties in the operation — reported to be three soldiers killed and five seriously wounded.

In the survey, 42% of Republicans said they would be less likely to support the military campaign against Iran if it resulted in "U.S. troops in the Middle East being killed or wounded."

Responses also showed that Trump's presidential approval rating dropped to 39%, one percentage point lower than a previous Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 18 and 23.

Forty-five percent of respondents — including 34% of Republicans and 44% of independents — said they would be less likely to support the attacks if the situation led to higher gas or oil prices in the United States.

On Sunday, it was reported that the world's two largest shipping companies, MSC and Maersk, are halting their container vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, citing the deteriorating situation and security risks in the Middle East stemming from the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions by Iranian military forces.

The maritime corridor — between 55 and 95 kilometers wide and connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea — is the only oceanic outlet for the major hydrocarbon exporters of the Gulf region. Approximately one-fifth of all oil consumed globally, along with around 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, passes through this strait.

According to press reports, at least 150 tankers are currently immobilized near the Strait of Hormuz, as shipping and oil companies avoid the crossing. As a result, Brent crude has already risen 10% to $80 per barrel, with analysts forecasting a further increase on Monday when official markets open.

The massive strikes launched Saturday by the Pentagon and Israel against Iran — which holds 10% of the world's crude reserves and exports between 80 and 90% of its production to China — along with the instability generated across the Middle East, a region home to nearly half of global hydrocarbon reserves, have led analysts to fear price increases surpassing $100 per barrel. That would represent a roughly 37% surge compared to Friday's market close.

Iran is the third-largest crude oil producer by volume within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the military actions are contributing to a major slowdown at the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil production transits.

The poll results come as criticism and condemnation of the Trump administration's military actions mount both in Congress and among the American public, with several cities across the United States hosting demonstrations against the strikes on Iran.