Poll shows Americans skeptical of U.S.-Iran deal as gas prices rise

Americans are watching the U.S.-Iran deal through the lens of their fuel bills, and the latest CBS News polling suggests little confidence that Washington came out ahead. The survey found that many Americans want the Iran war to end, but few believe the United States got the better end of the agreement, even as rising gas prices feed broader economic unease.

The poll was conducted June 17-19 among 2,519 U.S. adults. It showed that many respondents think the conflict is not going well and that the administration has not clearly explained its goals. That skepticism is colliding with a deal framework that, according to U.S. officials, has already been signed electronically, with a signing ceremony expected Friday.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Iran would receive half of roughly $24 billion in long-frozen funds before final negotiations continue during a 60-day ceasefire extension. For markets, the immediate question is less about diplomatic language than about whether the arrangement eases or prolongs the kind of uncertainty that has kept pressure on energy prices.

Kevin Book, who follows energy markets for ClearView Energy Partners, said gas prices could take time to return to pre-Iran-war levels because uncertainty remains and oil reserves have been depleted. That matters because even small disruptions or the perception of disruption can ripple quickly through crude prices, refinery margins and what drivers pay at the pump.

Amos Hochstein warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz could give Iran leverage it did not previously have. That narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, and any threat to shipping there would raise the risk premium embedded in global crude markets long before barrels actually stopped flowing.

The political debate has also turned on national security, not just economics. Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, an Army veteran, took part in the discussion on U.S. posture toward Iran and how Congress should define success. His role underscored the central tension now facing the White House: whether the deal can contain the conflict without signaling weakness, and whether Americans will feel relief at the pump before they trust the broader strategy.