US public approval for military action against Iran fell to 31% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted August 20-24, down from 37% in March and 34% earlier in August, reflecting waning support for the conflict that began February 28, 2026, with US and Israeli attacks [1, 2, 3, 4]. Support among self-identified Republicans declined from 77% in March to 69% in the latest survey [1, 2, 3, 4].
President Donald Trump's approval rating remains at a historic low of 33%, the lowest recorded since his first two terms in office, according to the poll of 1,215 US adults with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points [1, 2, 4]. Meanwhile, 83% of Americans believe the Iran conflict will continue for an extended period, up from 80% in early August [1, 2, 3, 4].
Gasoline prices in the US have risen by more than $1 per gallon compared with pre-war levels, adding to domestic economic concerns related to the conflict [3, 4].
On August 24, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new secondary sanctions targeting roughly 60 Iranian-related individuals, entities, and vessels across sectors including digital assets, gold, technology, aviation, and shipping [4]. Bessent said, "We will target all of Iran’s sources of revenue, including oil, with the aim of preventing other countries and companies from doing business with Tehran. This campaign is dubbed 'Operation Economic Outcast'" [3]. He added that the US wants to give third countries and companies time to exit Iranian markets to avoid disrupting the global financial system, stating, "華府希望先給相關國家及企業時間撤離伊朗市場，沒有必要因此「摧毀全球金融體系」" [4].
If a congressional election were held now, independent voters would support Democrats 33% to Republicans 19%, increasing pressure on Republicans to maintain their House majority [4].
The latest poll reflects growing fatigue with the Iran conflict, which started with US and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026 [3, 4]. The new sanctions aim to expand economic pressure on Tehran while managing global financial risks. Further developments are expected as the US continues its campaign against Iran.
