Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday sharply criticized the coordinated U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, warning that the operation represents a significant and dangerous widening of the conflict.

Mamdani labeled the strikes “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.”

“Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. 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,” Mamdani said.

The mayor emphasized that his primary concern is the protection of New York City residents. He said he has been in ongoing communication with the city’s Police Commissioner and emergency management leadership, and that precautionary steps are already underway. Those measures include heightened interagency coordination and increased security patrols at locations deemed sensitive.

Mamdani also spoke directly to the city’s Iranian community, describing them as “part of the fabric of this city” and affirming that their safety remains a priority.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also issued a statement opposing the military campaign, accusing President Donald Trump of pulling the United States into a conflict that she argues lacks public support.

In a February 28, 2026 statement, Harris declared, “Let me be clear: I am opposed to a regime-change war in Iran, and our troops are being put in harm’s way for the sake of Trump’s war of choice.”

She described the strikes as a “dangerous and unnecessary gamble with American lives,” arguing that the action threatens both regional stability and the country’s standing on the world stage. While Harris acknowledged that Iran poses a serious threat and reiterated that it must never be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons, she said military force is not the correct approach to addressing that danger.

Harris also faulted the President’s earlier remarks about Iran, contending that prior assurances about ending wars and about the state of Iran’s nuclear program were inaccurate. She pointed out that the President has conceded the possibility of U.S. casualties as the conflict continues.

“Our troops deserve a Commander-in-Chief who approaches decisions on matters of war and peace with the same steadiness and discipline our troops show every day,” she said, urging Congress to exercise its full authority to prevent deeper American involvement in the fighting.

{Matzav.com}