Five months into the US war with Iran, Americans who expect the Middle East to slide toward chaos outnumber those who see the war bringing more stability by three to one, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The six-day poll concluded on Monday, as Republican President Donald Trump again backed away from threatened “massive attacks” on Iran, underscoring uncertainty surrounding a conflict he initially predicted would bring a swift victory.
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Fifty percent of poll respondents said they thought US military action in Iran would destabilize the Middle East over the next year, about three times the 17 percent who said the war would lead to more stability in the region. Another 16 percent said stability would stay about the same and 17 percent said they were unsure or didn’t answer the question.
Americans were also pessimistic about gasoline prices, which have risen as Iran has choked off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies. Some 58 percent said they expected gas prices to worsen, while just 15 percent expected them to improve.
