Majority in US Call Iran Military Moves ‘Excessive’ Amid Fuel Price Fears

Public opinion in the United States appears divided as tensions with Iran continue to dominate foreign policy discussions. While many Americans agree that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons should remain a top priority, a majority now feel that recent US military actions may have gone too far.

A new survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that about 59 percent of adults believe Washington's current military posture toward Iran is excessive. The sentiment follows the decision by Donald Trump to deploy additional warships and troops to the Middle East amid escalating tensions.

Despite this concern, the poll suggests that the public still strongly supports efforts aimed at stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Roughly two-thirds of respondents said preventing Tehran from becoming a nuclear power is an important objective for US foreign policy.

However, economic worries are increasingly shaping public attitudes. Rising fuel prices have become a key concern, with 45 percent of Americans saying they are very or extremely worried about being able to afford petrol in the coming months. That figure marks a sharp rise from 30 percent in a similar poll conducted after Trump's re-election.

The findings underline a difficult balancing act for the White House. On one hand, there is strong backing for firm action to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. On the other, Americans are wary of a prolonged conflict that could push oil prices higher and strain household budgets.

Political analysts believe the issue could become a growing challenge for the administration if tensions with Iran persist and fuel prices continue to climb.