New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Brooklyn journalist Iranian activist Masih Alinejad clashed on social media in the hours after Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which President Trump says killed Iran\u2019s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
Mamdani posted a statement on social media<\/a>, calling the action “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.” Mamdani, who met with Trump at The White House just days prior, added: “Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”<\/p>\n Alinejad — who was the target of an Iranian assassination plot<\/a> — responded directly to Mamdani’s post on X<\/a>. She claimed that Mamdani “stayed quiet when we have faced massacre, when Islamic Republic assassins were sent here in New York to kill us, stay quiet now!” Alinejad added “STOP lecturing us Iranians about peace.”<\/p>\n Just last month, Alinejad said she hoped Trump would go after Khamenei\u00a0like he did Venezuelan President\u00a0Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. One of two men convicted in the plot to assassinate Alinejad\u00a0was sentenced to 15 years in prison in January. A second defendant who pleaded guilty to lesser charges will be sentenced in April. <\/p>\n Alinejad\u00a0has described being the target of multiple threats because of her words against the Iranian regime. Two purported Russian mobsters were sentenced last year to 25 years in prison for a similar foiled plot against her.<\/a><\/p>\n Mamdani’s post also addressed New Yorkers of Iranian descent, writing: “you are part of the fabric of this city \u2014 you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders.\u00a0You will be safe here.”<\/p>\n Read Mayor Mamdani’s X post and Masih Alinejad’s response below<\/p>\n Today\u2019s military strikes on Iran \u2014 carried out by the United States and Israel \u2014 mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. \u00a0Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n To you, Zohran Mamdani! You stayed quiet when we have faced massacre, when Islamic Republic assassins were sent here in New York to kill us, stay quiet now! <\/p>\n STOP lecturing us Iranians about peace.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/Mj94FmZIdm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Masih Alinejad \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f (@AlinejadMasih) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t