Fox News poll: 73 per cent of voters view Iran as a major national security threat

Iran viewed as growing threat in 2025, up sharply from 2019

A recent Fox News poll, conducted June 13-16, 2025, reveals that 73 per cent of registered voters perceive Iran as a national security threat to the US, a significant increase from six years ago, while opinions are divided on Israel’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities; the poll also indicates that voters see the Russia-Ukraine conflict as less pressing than the situation in the Middle East, but still support financial aid to both Ukraine and Israel, with partisan divisions influencing support in each conflict.

The survey, which included 1,003 registered voters, also shows that while voters are concerned about Iran's nuclear program, other issues like the future of the US, inflation, and government spending are considered more pressing. The poll also touched on President Trump's approval ratings on various issues, as well as favorability ratings for other political figures.

Also read: Iran Israel latest: World War 3 fear grips as Russia threatens USA, Turkey backs Tehran

Seventy-three percent of registered voters think Iran poses a real threat to the US, marking a 13-point increase from six years prior.

Majority across political spectrum agree on Iranian threat

"The increased sense that Iran constitutes a threat is real, but it also reflects the unique timing and circumstances surrounding this poll," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll along with Democrat Chris Anderson.

Shaw added, "The poll was in the field as images of Iranian missiles falling on Tel Aviv dominated television and the internet. The immediacy and clarity of the conflict undoubtedly contributes to how voters gauge what is at risk."

Majorities across party lines agree on the threat posed by Iran: Democrats (69 per cent), Republicans (82 per cent), and Independents (62 per cent).

These figures represent increases since 2019, with Democrats up by 12 points, Republicans by 17, and Independents by 4.

Support split over Israeli military action against Iran

The survey was released as President Donald Trump urged for Iran’s "unconditional surrender."

Voters are split on Israel’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran’s nuclear programs, with 49% approving and 46 per cent disapproving.

Republicans (73 per cent approve) are more than twice as likely as Democrats (32 per cent) and Independents (32 per cent) to approve of the strikes.

Most voters believe the attacks against Iran will make the world a more dangerous place (59 per cent) rather than safer (36 per cent).

About three-quarters of Democrats (74 per cent) and Independents (77 per cent) agree the strikes will increase peril, as do nearly 4 in 10 Republicans (36 per cent).

Nuclear concerns climb but rank mid-tier among voter priorities

Almost 8 in 10 voters say they are extremely or very concerned about Iran’s nuclear program (78 per cent), up from 66 per cent in April and matching the high in September 2010.

When presented with a list of eight issues, Iran’s nuclear program falls in the middle.

The future of the US (85 per cent extremely or very concerned), inflation (84 per cent), and government spending (80 per cent) rank higher.

Antisemitism (69 per cent), illegal immigration (67 per cent), the use of US military troops domestically (66 per cent), and protests in US cities (63 per cent) rank lower than concerns about Iran.

Also read: All-out war: Iran warns Trump it will start responding to US if found involved in attacks by Israel

While roughly 8 in 10 Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are concerned about Iran getting a nuke, it only ranks in the top three concerns for Republicans.

Middle East conflict seen as more relevant to US life than Ukraine war

Overall, 8 in 10 think what happens in the Middle East matters a great deal or some to life in the US (81 per cent).

More than half support financial aid to the Israelis for their military (53 per cent), a 3-point increase since March, but down from a high of 60 per cent in November 2023, shortly after the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Since November 2023, Democrats (-14 points) and Independents (-11) are less likely to support sending money to the Israelis while Republicans (+4 points) solidified their support.

"Even though most think the stakes are high, there is a reticence to get involved in the Middle East," says Shaw.

Shaw also stated, "The public isn’t blind to history and history teaches us that those who get directly involved in these conflicts do so at their peril."

Trump’s approval mixed across issues amid global crisis

Trump left the G7 summit early, citing the ongoing and intensifying situation in the Middle East as the reason.

Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy has held relatively steady since April: 42 per cent approve vs. 57 per cent disapprove for a net negative rating of -15.

He fares better on border security (53 per cent approve, 46 per cent disapprove) and immigration (46 per cent, 53 per cent) while he does worse on the economy (40 per cent, 58 per cent) and inflation (34 per cent, 64 per cent).

Overall, 46 per cent approve of his job performance as president, while 54 per cent disapprove.

Trump’s personal favorable rating held steady at 45 per cent.

Compared to those in his administration, Trump’s about even with Vice President JD Vance (44 per cent favorable) and performs better than Rubio (42 per cent), Elon Musk (41 per cent), and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (32 per cent).

RFK Jr. and Harris lead favorability ratings among political figures

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does the best with a 48 per cent favorable rating.

For comparison, the favorable ratings among Democratic Party leaders were in the same ballpark: Kamala Harris (49 per cent favorable), Joe Biden (43 per cent), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (40 per cent), and Gavin Newsom (39 per cent).

Everyone tested was viewed more negatively than positively, although by only 2 points for both Harris and RFK Jr.

Also read: All about GBU-57, the 30,000-pound U.S. beast that could help Israel neutralize Iran’s deepest threat

Ukraine aid support remains stable amid lowered public attention

The continuing war between Russia and Ukraine takes a backseat to the conflict in the Middle East, with 72 per cent saying the war matters a great deal to life in the US compared to 81 per cent who say the same about what is happening in the Middle East.

Those saying the Russia-Ukraine war matters are down from 81 per cent in October 2023 and a high of 85 per cent in March 2022.

Even so, 56 per cent of voters support sending money to Ukraine to help fight Russia.

That number has held steady at between 54 and 63 per cent for the last three years.

Majorities favor sending financial aid to the Ukrainians (56 per cent) and the Israelis (53 per cent) to fight their respective wars, with partisanship driving support in the different theaters.

Seventy per cent of Democrats support funding Ukraine compared to just 46 per cent of Republicans, while 71 per cent of Republicans favor sending aid to Israel compared to just 43 per cent of Democrats.

The Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,003 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file.

Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (149) and cellphones (566) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (288).

Also read: How close is World War 3 amidst Israel Iran war?

Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.