U.S.–Iran Conflict Enters Fifth Month Amid Growing Public Skepticism

The United States and Iran have been exchanging strikes for nearly five months after President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war at the end of February. The conflict began with the stated goal of eliminating Iran’s nuclear and ballistic-missile capabilities, a target Trump said would be achieved within four to six weeks. Instead, hostilities have persisted, with U.S. and Israeli forces continuing nightly attacks and Iran maintaining restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Early in the campaign Trump called on the Iranian people to overthrow the regime that has ruled for almost five decades. A short-lived memorandum of understanding reached in late June to pause hostilities quickly collapsed, and by the end of July the war remained active. U.S.

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• Public opinion: A CBS News/YouGov poll of 2,193 adults found that more than three-quarters believe the administration has faced greater difficulty than expected. Only 20 % said the conflict has proceeded as smoothly as anticipated, and 4 % said it has been easier.

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• Future expectations: 37 % of respondents expect the war to continue for months, 21 % foresee it lasting years, 9 % think it will end within weeks, and one-third are unsure.

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• Casualties and strikes: Eighteen U.S. service members have died since late February. U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed thousands of Iranians, and U.S. forces have conducted at least 13 consecutive nights of attacks.

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• Economic impact: The average U.S. price for a gallon of regular gasoline has risen to $4.11, up from below $3 before the conflict, according to the American Automobile Association.

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President Trump initially projected a short-duration campaign, while later acknowledging the protracted nature of the fighting. U.S. Central Command emphasized that each night’s strikes target Iranian military assets to protect commercial navigation. The administration faces mounting pressure, with roughly two-thirds of poll respondents urging an immediate end to the conflict and one-third advocating continuation until Iran concedes further.

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The ongoing exchange of strikes sustains heightened tension in a vital maritime corridor, inflating global oil prices and directly affecting American consumers at the pump. Persistent public doubt about the war’s progress and objectives underscores growing domestic scrutiny of the administration’s strategy as the conflict drags on beyond its original timeline.

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