A new national survey from the Associated Press and NORC Research Center finds that 64 percent of American adults say the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran is not worth the risks involved. The poll, released Thursday, shows 33 percent of respondents take the opposite view, believing the fighting justifies its costs.
The findings arrive as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to shape Middle East policy debates in Washington. The survey asked respondents about their views on American involvement in any potential or ongoing military engagement tied to the Iran situation.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and anti-war activists have pointed to the poll results as evidence that Americans want diplomatic solutions over military confrontation. House Progressive Caucus members have repeatedly called for restraint in any direct U.S. military action against Iranian targets, arguing that endless Middle East conflicts drain resources needed at home. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has been among those arguing that unilateral American military strikes would be a mistake without international consensus.
Progressive advocacy groups including MoveOn and Win Without War said the survey reflects what they describe as broad public skepticism about another major ground war in the region. These organizations have advocated for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran through diplomatic channels rather than escalation.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans and foreign policy hawks say the poll understates threats posed by Iran and its regional proxies. Supporters of a stronger U.S. posture argue that containing Iranian nuclear ambitions and limiting Tehran's influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen requires sustained American military presence and readiness to act.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has argued that weakness invites aggression and that negotiations from a position of strength offer the best path forward with Iran. The senator and other Republicans have pointed to Iran's support for militant groups as justification for maintaining pressure through sanctions and targeted operations rather than diplomatic engagement alone. Conservative commentators on outlets including Fox News have characterized any drawdown in military readiness as emboldening adversaries.
What the Numbers Show
The AP-NORC survey found 64 percent of respondents said the conflict is not worth fighting, while 33 percent said it is worth the risks. The poll did not break down responses by party for this specific question, though it noted majorities of Democrats and independents oppose U.S. military involvement at current levels.
The margin of error for the survey was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, meaning the true level of opposition could range from roughly 60 to 68 percent. The poll surveyed 1,146 adults between July 11-15, 2026, using a probability-based panel designed to represent the national population.
Historical polls on military interventions consistently show initial public support tends to decline over extended engagements, and polling on Middle East conflicts has shown sharp drops in approval once American casualties mount or costs become more visible to voters.
The Bottom Line
The survey provides a baseline for understanding American attitudes toward potential conflict with Iran at a moment when tensions remain elevated. Whether those views would shift if military operations began, as they did following the 2003 Iraq invasion, remains an open question that future polling will test.
For policymakers in both parties, the data suggests significant political risk in supporting open-ended military action without clear exit strategies and defined objectives. The partisan divide on Iran policy has persisted through multiple administrations, and neither party's approach has generated durable public consensus over more than two decades of tensions with Tehran.