New Survey Reveals 60 Percent of Americans Approved of U.S. Strikes Against Iranian Nuclear Facilities

Latest Developments

• Reagan Institute Survey Shows American Support for U.S. Action Against Iran: A new survey released by the Ronald Reagan Institute on December 4 found that 60 percent of Americans supported U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025. The report noted, however, that there is “partisan division with support from 83 percent of Republicans but only 39 percent of Democrats” for the strikes. According to the survey, there is also “majority support among both Democrats and Republicans for using economic sanctions and cyber capabilities as well as renegotiating the nuclear agreement” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
• National Security Strategy Cites Threat of Iran: The Trump administration released its National Security Strategy (NSS) on December 5. Highlighting the threat of Iran, the document noted that the regime remains “the region’s chief destabilizing force” but that “Tehran has been greatly weakened by Israeli actions since October 7, 2023, and President Trump’s June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, which significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program.” The NSS asserted that American interests in the Middle East include “ensuring that Gulf energy supplies do not fall into the hands of an outright enemy, that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, that the Red Sea remain navigable, and that the region not be an incubator or exporter of terror against American interests or the American homeland, and that Israel remain secure.”
• Regime Conducts Missile, Drone Drill: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy carried out a drill on December 5 during which both anti-ship cruise and anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired at simulated targets in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian state media reported that drones simultaneously struck simulated enemy bases during the exercise.

FDD Expert Response

“Some Americans would like to put the Middle East in the rearview mirror, but the Middle East is not done with us. Thankfully, most Americans understand that we cannot permit the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism to acquire nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, Tehran is racing to rebuild and improve its ballistic missile production capacity and arsenal, and China is reportedly helping.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“This is a helpful poll because it should reinforce the Trump administration’s determination against the Iranian regime. Enabled by Israel’s brilliant military initiative, the U.S. intervention in Iran in June was a huge success. But Tehran has decided not to compromise and is rebuilding its capabilities, including an aggressive resupply of the Houthi rebels in Yemen to enhance their attacking capabilities. U.S. popular approval should help strengthen Trump’s resolve to pursue a zero-tolerance policy toward the hostile postures of Iran and its regional proxies.” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

“Before Tehran had developed the region’s largest surface-to-surface missile force or created the Axis of Resistance, much of its deterrent power derived from the ability to create havoc in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Over the past two years, we have seen how this asymmetric threat was exported and employed in the Red Sea against international shipping by the Houthis. But now, Iran’s IRGC-Navy, which sat on the sidelines during much of the regional fighting, is reminding audiences that it can cause havoc in an even more important international waterway should another direct conflict take place against Iran.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow

“Six months on, with Iran still unable to enrich uranium or build nuclear weapons, it appears the military option was the most effective of available tools at decisively setting back Iran’s capabilities. The administration must uphold this no-enrichment standard regarding Tehran: the world’s largest state sponsor of terror cannot have access to fuel for the most powerful of weapons.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iran’s Oil Exports Remained Near Peak in November,” by Saeed Ghasseminejad

“The Twilight of Ali Khamenei,” by Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh

“Report: Iran rebuilding its ballistic missile program,” by Joe Truzman

“IAEA Chief Assesses Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile Remains Inside Sites Destroyed by Israel and U.S.,” FDD Flash Brief