US PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IRAN WAR FALLS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE CONFLICT START

Public support for United States military action against Iran has fallen to 31 per cent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday. This represents the lowest level of backing since the early stages of the conflict, which began on 28 February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The poll found that support among Republican respondents dropped to 69 per cent, down from 77 per cent in March, indicating declining backing within the President's own party. A growing majority of Americans expect the war to continue for some time, the survey suggests.

President Donald Trump's approval rating remains at 33 per cent, matching the lowest level recorded across his first and second terms, according to the polling series. The war continues to weigh on Trump's standing with the public, the poll indicates. Trump has defended the military campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. However, the economic effects of the conflict remain a concern for Americans, with Iran maintaining a de facto blockade of oil exports from the region, contributing to a rise in US petrol prices to near record highs.

The Trump administration announced pledges to increase economic pressure on Iran. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated on Monday that the United States would target all of Iran's sources of revenue, including oil, with the aim of preventing other countries and companies from doing business with Tehran. The campaign has been designated "Operation Economic Outcast".