Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, blames 'Israel, its powerful American lobby' for conflict

'I ​cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war ⁠in Iran,' says Joseph Kent

The head ​of the United States National Counterterrorism Centre resigned on Tuesday, becoming ‌the first and most senior member of President Donald Trump's administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran ​posed no imminent threat to the US.

"I ​cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war ⁠in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to ​our nation, and it is clear that we started this ​war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby," Joseph Kent wrote in a letter to Trump posted on X.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026

Kent, a former member of the Green Beret special forces who served multiple combat tours. 

"Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation," Kent said in his letter to Trump.

"Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran," he said.

"This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the US, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory," he said.

Read More: Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first

"This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women," Kent said.

"I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives," he added.

Some ​experts have said an imminent threat would be required ​for the US to launch a war under current law.

‌The ⁠White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately respond.

Intelligence officials were ​caught off guard ​by the ⁠news.

Kent is close with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has kept ​a low profile since the Iran war ​began.

⁠Gabbard has not issued any public statements and has only appeared in public during the dignified transfer of American ⁠soldiers ​killed earlier this month during the ​conflict with Iran.

Earlier in the month, Trump administration officials had acknowledged in closed-door briefings with congressional staff that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack US forces first, two people familiar with the matter said.

Trump, one of the officials said, was not going to “sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks.”

Also Read: US intelligence warned Trump Iran could hit Gulf allies

Pentagon officials had briefed Democratic and Republican staff of several national security committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives for more than 90 minutes on the unfolding US attack in Iran, White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson had said earlier.

During the briefings, administration officials emphasised that Iran’s ballistic missiles and proxy forces in the region posed an imminent threat to US interests, but there was no intelligence indicating that Tehran was preparing to attack US forces first, the two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

Trump said the attack, which was expected to run for weeks, aimed to ensure Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon, contain its missile programme and eliminate threats to the US and its allies.

He had also urged Iranians to rise up and topple the government.