Third paragraph: Anyways, we as New Yorkers don’t really have to fear any retaliation from Iran, so no worries, you can go back to brunch after you express your dissent on social media.

I also read it that way on a first pass because I missed the "Iranian" in "Iranian New Yorkers". He's probably referring to the likely surge in hate crimes against Iranians that's bound to happen, and that he'll (allegedly) work to prevent it.