New polling data suggests that three of out four Americans are concerned that Iran will retaliate against the U.S. following the June 21 airstrikes on nuclear sites. Most people in the nation consider a threat to U.S. security.
According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist poll results, there appears to be bipartisan consensus about these concerns. They show that 88% of Democrats, 63% of Republicans and 74% of Republicans worry to some degree that Iran will retaliate.
When he announced the strikes last Saturday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Tensions in the Middle East have been increasing after more than a year of fighting between Iranian proxy groups and Israel, eventually leading to Israeli attacks on Iran.
In an interview with Audacy, Andrew Reddie, associate research professor at Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley said airstrikes with powerful U.S. weapons on Iran could result in Iranian retaliation. Specifically, he said the 40,000 U.S. troops in the region could be a target.
Audacy reported last week on comments from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that his country had already “slapped” the U.S. in the face with 12 days of missile strikes on U.S. ally Israel. However, those strikes reportedly hit few targets.
This Monday, CNN reported that new satellite images show continuing work at Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment plant following the U.S. attack. Reuters also reported that Iran-linked hackers have threatened to release emails from Trump aides. Back in 2024, Audacy reported on alleged hack on Trump’s presidential campaign linked to suspected threats from Iran.
“When thinking about the U.S. airstrikes on Iran, Americans divide in their support of those bombings,” said Marist polling. Indeed, the poll results show an even 50%-50% split of those who agree with the move to bomb and those who do not.
Nearly half of those polled (48%) consider Iran to be a major threat to the U.S., 39% see it as a minor threat and 13% think it isn’t a threat, per the polling. More Republicans (64%) consider Iran to be a major threat to the U.S. than Democrats (38%) and independents (45%). More Republicans (84%) also support the attacks, while 45% of independents and 23% of Democrats support them. Other polls have showed many Americans did not support the strikes.
Although Trump has hinted at the possibility of a trade deal with Iran in the past, he slammed a previous deal brokered while former President Barack Obama was in office this week. Still, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran seems to be holding this week, per The Hill.