NYC mayor breaks silence on Tehran killings, confirms text exchanges with president
Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters on Tuesday, breaking silence on a sensitive international issue that previously shadowed his political rise. Speaking during a press conference, Mamdani unequivocally stated his opposition to Tehran’s violent response to dissidents. “I absolutely do not support the way the Iranian government has responded to that,” he said when asked about Iranian security forces killing demonstrators demanding democratic reforms. “I think that the Iranian government and every government should respect the right of people to express their political opinions, and for people to be able to do so safely,” Mamdani continued, articulating a human rights position consistent with international law on freedom of assembly.
Controversial History on Gaza, Iran
The statement marks a clarification from Mamdani’s contentious record on Middle Eastern affairs. During his mayoral campaign, the democratic socialist drew criticism for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” and for threatening to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York City. Governor Hochul publicly stated that Mamdani had “a lot of healing to do with the Jewish community” following his rhetoric around Gaza and Palestine. The Iran condemnation represents an attempt to broaden his positioning on international human rights beyond Palestinian advocacy.
Trump Texts and Unlikely Alliance
In a startling revelation, Mamdani disclosed that he has been exchanging text messages with President Donald Trump at least twice weekly since their meeting in the Oval Office following his election victory last November. “I’ve exchanged a handful of texts with the president since we met in the Oval Office,” Mamdani said during Tuesday’s press conference. “And those texts, the conversations that we’ve had, they always come back to New York City and the importance of delivering for the people who call this city home,” he explained. The frequent communications between a self-described democratic socialist and the Republican president have surprised political observers who expected antagonism.
Convergence on Iran Policy
Trump has aggressively signaled U.S. support for Iranian dissidents and threatened military action. He posted on Truth Social demanding Iranian officials stop killing protesters and declared “HELP IS ON THE WAY” to Iranian patriots. Mamdani’s public condemnation of Tehran’s crackdown aligns with the Trump administration’s position, suggesting common ground between unlikely political allies on Iran policy. For context on international human rights standards and mechanisms, see UN Human Rights resources and Amnesty International documentation of Iran protest response.
