CBS News poll: Most say Iran war is not going well, but don't want regime left in power

A CBS News poll finds most Americans believe the U.S. conflict with Iran is not progressing well, yet simultaneously oppose allowing Iran's current regime to remain in power—a tension revealing deep ambivalence about U.S. goals in the region. According to CBS News director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto, Americans prioritize multiple, sometimes competing objectives: halting Iran's nuclear program, protecting Iranian civilians' safety and freedom, and bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion. The results underscore public uncertainty about how to achieve these aims without either prolonging military engagement or accepting outcomes that leave Tehran's government intact. The poll suggests voters are caught between two concerns: fatigue with ongoing conflict and anxiety about the consequences of disengagement.