Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he condemned recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, accusing him of sympathizing with the Iranian regime and ignoring the suffering of Iranian dissidents.

Alinejad: “Stop Lecturing Iranians About Peace”

In a post on X, Alinejad reacted angrily to Mamdani’s statement criticizing the military operation.

“To you, Zohran Mamdani! You stayed quiet when we have faced massacre… STOP lecturing us Iranians about peace,” she wrote.

Alinejad also said Mamdani’s stance made her feel unsafe living in New York.

“I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who sympathizes with the regime that killed more than 30,000 unarmed Iranians in less than 24 hours.”

Alinejad has long been an outspoken critic of the Iranian government and has advocated for women’s rights and democratic reforms in Iran.

Mamdani Condemns U.S.-Israel Military Strikes

Mamdani had earlier denounced the military action by the United States and Israel, describing it as a dangerous escalation.

“Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,” he said in a statement.

He warned that the strikes could open “a new theater of war” and argued that Americans are more concerned with domestic issues such as the affordability crisis.

“Americans do not want this… They want peace,” Mamdani said.

“Safety Without Justice Means Nothing”

Alinejad responded by accusing Mamdani of ignoring the realities faced by Iranians living under the regime.

“The people of Iran want to be free. Where were you when they needed solidarity?” she wrote.
“New York belongs to people who stand against terrorism, not those who excuse it.”

Her comments carry personal weight: Alinejad was the target of an Iranian assassination plot in 2024 due to her activism against the government in Tehran.

Iranian-American Voices Weigh In

Alinejad later discussed the issue during a CNN interview with anchor Dana Bash alongside Iranian-American entrepreneur Moj Mahdara, co-founder of the Iranian Diaspora Collective.

Mahdara argued that some Democrats should move past their opposition to former President Donald Trump when evaluating the geopolitical stakes.

“This is about national security,” Mahdara said. “This is about being a good partner to the Gulf States and what their aspirations are.”

Broader Debate

The exchange highlights a growing divide over the U.S. role in the Middle East and how American political leaders should respond to Iran.

While critics warn that strikes risk escalating a broader war, others—including many Iranian dissidents—argue that the Iranian regime poses a direct threat both regionally and internationally.