Washington, USA — A top security official in Washington has resigned, raising strong objections to the ongoing war in Iran.
Joe Kent, now former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in his resignation letter that he could no longer, in good conscience, support the conflict.
In his message to the United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday (US time), Kent said that he continues to support the values and foreign policies Trump previously championed, until the recent event against Iran happened.
Drawing from personal experience, the 45-year-old former US soldier described himself as a combat veteran and a Gold Star spouse who lost his wife in a previous war.
He said this background makes it difficult for him to support sending more Americans into what he believes is an unnecessary conflict, warning of the risks of another prolonged war similar to past US involvement in Iraq.
And in a shocking statement, Kent argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States, contrary to Washington’s assessment.
He alleged that an “echo chamber” of influential voices helped shape a narrative that Iran posed an immediate danger: Israel and the media.
According to Kent, these echo chambers amounted to a misinformation campaign that misled the decision that contributed to the outbreak of war.
He urged the president to reconsider the current course, saying there is still time to reverse direction and avoid mistakes again.
The White House rejected those claims.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Kent’s statement contained multiple false claims, particularly his assertion that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States.
Trump, meanwhile, slams Kent’s resignation, saying that he is a nice guy but very weak on security.
He also made it clear that Iran poses a threat.
Trump also posted a Truth Social post, showing a screenshot of Kent’s eagerness to wipe out Iran’s military capability in his previous media post.
Kent had served as head of the National Counterterrorism Center for less than eight months before stepping down.