As Iran war drags on, Americans are bracing for more chaos in Middle East, poll finds

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that five months into the US war with Iran, 50% of Americans believe the conflict will destabilize the Middle East over the next year, compared to 17% who foresee increased stability. The poll, which concluded on Monday and surveyed 4,505 US adults, also revealed widespread pessimism regarding rising gasoline prices, with 58% expecting them to worsen. Only 35% of Americans approve of the war, which has cost US taxpayers at least $37.5 billion and resulted in 18 US service member deaths. David Schenker, former State Department official, noted, "I don't think there's an understanding of the nature of the degradation of Iran's capabilities, which is significant." The findings highlight political risks for President Trump and Republicans ahead of midterm elections, as Democrats are now favored on handling war and terrorism, and the economy.