By Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus
March 3, 2026 / 5:04 PM EST / CBS News
Most Americans say the Trump administration has not clearly explained U.S. goals in the conflict with Iran, and that perception is closely tied to whether they support the military action.
People who believe the administration has not explained its objectives are more likely to expect the conflict to last longer or to be unsure about its duration. Half of those surveyed think the fighting will continue for months or even years. Those who feel the goals have been made clear tend to expect a shorter conflict and are more likely to approve of the action.
Right now, more Americans say the military action will make the U.S. less safe than say it will make the country more safe. Still, views of the administration’s aims vary widely. Many respondents say they think the goals include stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, stopping terrorism, or helping the Iranian people; those who cite these aims tend to support the action. Others express a more cynical view, believing the motives include gaining political advantage domestically.
Overall, a majority of Americans disapprove of the military action. Support remains strong among the president’s Republican base — particularly MAGA-aligned Republicans — most of whom say the action makes the U.S. more safe.
A substantial two-thirds of Americans say the administration should get approval from Congress before taking further military action. Republicans, by contrast, generally do not see congressional approval as necessary, reflecting views they expressed about U.S. military actions in earlier cases.
This survey recontacted Americans who were first interviewed for a CBS News poll completed before the start of airstrikes. The recontact was conducted March 2–3, 2026, after the start of U.S. military action against Iran, following an initial survey conducted February 25–27, 2026, prior to U.S. military action. The recontact sample included 1,399 U.S. adults; the initial survey included 2,264 U.S. adults. The margin of error for the total sample in the recontact survey is ±3.2 points.