New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Labels U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran ‘Illegal War of Aggression’

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned President Donald Trump’s recent military strikes on Iran, calling the operation an “illegal war of aggression” even as the White House intensifies efforts to address Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

In a statement posted on X, Mamdani described today’s attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces as marking “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,” highlighting bombings of cities, civilian casualties, and the opening of a new theater of war.

The strikes, part of what was dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” targeted the Tehran office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other key sites. The military action followed weeks of failed negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear program, as Tehran refused to scale back its uranium enrichment activities. Khamenei died in the operation.

Mamdani’s criticism came shortly after a White House meeting with Trump, during which he posed for a photo holding a mock newspaper titled “Trump to City: Let’s Build.” The mayor later stated that Americans do not want another war driven by regime change but rather relief from economic crises and peace.

His remarks drew swift backlash from Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad, who has faced assassination attempts in New York. In her X post, she criticized Mamdani for his silence on past attacks: “To you, Zohran Mamdani! You stayed quiet when we have faced massacre, when Islamic Republic assassins were sent here to kill us, stay quiet now!” Alinejad added, “I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you who sympathizes with the regime that killed more than 30,000 unarmed Iranians in less than 24 hours.”

Earlier this year, Trump urged Iranian protesters to continue demonstrations, declaring on Truth Social: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!… HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” The statement followed a violent crackdown by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militia, which killed an estimated 36,500 people.

In response to rising tensions, the U.S. has bolstered military presence in the Gulf region, deploying two aircraft carriers and thousands of troops to the Middle East.

Mamdani also urged Iranian-Americans living in New York—many who fled the ayatollah-led regime—to remain part of the city’s fabric.