Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has condemned Donald Trump-led administration’s airstrikes on Iran, tagging the move as indefensibly reckless and unnecessary.

Ms Harris, who stated this in a statement on Saturday, said the strikes undermine regional stability and global confidence in U.S. leadership.

“Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want,” she said. “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.” 

Ms Harris further described the strikes as a dangerous gamble capable of jeopardising the lives of American people and global security.

“This is a dangerous and unnecessary gamble with American lives that also jeopardises stability in the region and our standing in the world. What we are witnessing is not strength. It is recklessness dressed up as resolve,” she stated.

While acknowledging concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Ms Harris clarified that military escalation was not the appropriate strategy to address the threat, accusing Mr Trump of reneging on his campaign promise to end foreign wars.

“I know the threat that Iran poses, and they must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, but this is not the way to dismantle that threat.

“During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to end wars rather than start them. It was a lie. Then last year, he said, ‘we obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program. That, too, was a lie,” the former presidential candidate stated.

Ms Harris reiterated the need for urgent legislative intervention, urging the U.S. Congress to act decisively to prevent further escalation. 

“Under the Constitution of the United States, the President must receive authorization from Congress to enter a war. But even if he had, that does not change the fact that this action is unwise, unjustified, and not supported by the American people.

“There can be no equivocation in our opposition to Donald Trump’s war of choice, and Congress must use all available power to prevent him from further committing us to this conflict. Our troops, our allies, and the American people deserve nothing less,” she  stressed.

Israel with the backing of U.S., launched an attack on Iran’s capital on Saturday, which claimed the lives of the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian government officials.

While the UK sided with the United States and Israel in the war against Iran, countries such as Turkiye and Nigeria called for immediate ceasefire, urging parties to return to the negotiation table.