Opposition to the four-month-old U.S. military operation in Iran is declining, according to a recent poll, as President Trump pursues a peace deal. A Daily Mail/JL Partners poll of 1,059 registered voters found that the percentage of Americans who believe the war was wrong has decreased, while those who believe it was the right decision has climbed.
In May, 52 percent of those polled considered the military action against Iran to be wrong. The latest survey shows this figure has fallen to 47 percent. Concurrently, support for the operation has risen, with 35 percent of voters now stating it was the right choice, an increase from 33 percent a month prior. Party lines continue to show a significant divide, with 64 percent of Republicans supporting the war and 66 percent of Democrats opposing it.
The number of voters who strongly oppose the war in hindsight has dropped by eight percentage points, from 35 percent to 27 percent. These findings, gathered between June 24 and June 26, suggest a more favorable view of the war among Americans following the President's signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran last week aimed at halting attacks during peace negotiations.
However, the durability of this potential peace remains uncertain. Iran's attack on cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, and a subsequent U.S. retaliatory strike on Friday, have cast doubt on the agreement's stability. The poll indicates that a majority of Americans are skeptical about whether a peace deal, if reached, will last. Only 33 percent of respondents believe a peace deal is likely to hold in the long term, while 49 percent consider it unlikely.
Despite these reservations, the current MOU between the U.S. and Iran to initiate a 60-day ceasefire for denuclearization and economic reintegration talks has garnered majority support, with a 25-point lead over those who oppose it. "Americans clearly want this war to end and are welcoming the deal - even if they are skeptical when they hear more about it," said JL Partners co-founder James Johnson. He added that continued U.S. strikes in the Strait of Hormuz further fuel public doubt, and that "these numbers won’t hold if the peace doesn’t."
The ceasefire has already been breached by Iran, leading to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets in return, raising concerns that future talks could be jeopardized. President Trump had previously stated he would resume military action if Iran violated the ceasefire.
In a separate development, Israel and Lebanon reached a mediated agreement on Friday, described by ambassadors to the U.S. as a "first step" toward peace. While specific details remain scarce, the agreement does not involve Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group engaged in conflict with Israel. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the framework permits Lebanese forces to regain control of territory previously seized by Israel.