The head of the US National Counterterrorism Center has resigned, stating that Iran posed no imminent threat and opposing Washington’s role in the war.
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down on Tuesday in protest at the illegal US-led war with Iran, marking the most senior resignation linked to the conflict within the Trump administration.
In a letter published on X, Kent said he could not “in good conscience” support the war.
He wrote that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation” and argued that the conflict began under pressure from Israel and its allies in the United States.
Kent said the decision to go to war contradicted earlier policy commitments. He referred to President Donald Trump’s past stance against prolonged military involvement in the Middle East. “Wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation,” he wrote.
He urged Trump to change direction, stating that the current course did not serve US interests. “You hold the cards,” he wrote, calling for a reversal of policy.
Kent led the agency responsible for analysing and advising on global security threats, reporting to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. His role included briefing the president on risks linked to armed groups and international security.
His departure follows the launch of the illegal US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. The conflict has since spread across the Middle East, with attacks reported in Iran, Israel, Iraq and Gulf states.
Kent questioned the legal basis for the war. He referred to the absence of an imminent threat, a condition often cited under US law for military action without congressional approval. He also raised concerns under international law regarding the justification for strikes on another state.
The resignation letter criticised what Kent described as a campaign of influence. He said senior Israeli officials and members of the US media promoted claims that Iran posed an immediate danger. “This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat,” he wrote.
Kent added that such claims led to a belief that a quick military outcome was possible. He rejected that view and warned against repeating past conflicts.
He drew on his own military experience. Kent served in US Special Forces and completed multiple deployments in the Middle East. He later worked as a paramilitary officer with the CIA.
His wife, Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019. In his letter, he said her death occurred in a conflict shaped by earlier decisions in the region. He wrote that he could not support sending more troops into a war that “serves no benefit to the American people”.
The resignation comes amid rising casualties. Since the conflict began, at least 13 US soldiers have been killed. More than 1,400 people have died in Iran, with additional deaths reported in Israel and Gulf countries, according to compiled figures cited by Al Jazeera.
Kent had been nominated by Trump and confirmed after a contested process. Some lawmakers opposed his appointment, citing past political positions and associations. Despite this, he held the role during a period of escalating tensions with Iran.
His exit adds to pressure within parts of Trump’s political base. Some figures aligned with the president’s campaign platform have criticised the war, arguing that it conflicts with earlier pledges to limit foreign interventions.
The White House has not issued a formal response to Kent’s resignation. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has also not commented.
HT