Top US counterterror official quits, says ‘Iran posed no imminent threat’

International

A TOP counterterrorism official under US President Donald Trump has stepped down, publicly opposing the administration’s decision to go to war with Iran.

Per a report by BBC, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation through a letter posted on X, where he urged Trump to “reverse course” on the conflict.

In his letter, Kent argued that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States and claimed the war was influenced by pressure from Israel and its allies in the US. He also accused some officials and media figures of spreading misinformation that led to the decision.

“This was a lie,” Kent said, referring to claims that Iran was preparing an imminent attack.

The White House quickly rejected his statements. Officials insisted that the president had strong and credible intelligence showing that Iran was planning to strike first.

Trump, speaking at the Oval Office, downplayed Kent’s resignation, calling him a “nice guy” but “weak on security.”

He added that the resignation confirmed it was “a good thing that he was out”.

Kent is now the most senior official from Trump’s administration to openly criticize the US-Israel military action against Iran.

His remarks, however, sparked backlash. The Anti-Defamation League accused Kent of using antisemitic language in his claims, particularly for blaming Israel and media influence. The pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee echoed the criticism.

At the same time, reactions from political figures were divided. Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticized Kent’s stance, saying individuals with such views should not hold government positions.

On the other hand, Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Kent, calling him an American hero and warning the public not to believe what she described as attempts to discredit him.

Kent, a former special forces soldier and CIA officer, has a long military background. He served multiple deployments overseas and later worked in intelligence. His wife, Shannon Kent, a US Navy specialist, was killed in a bombing in Syria in 2019.

In his resignation letter, Kent cited his personal experience in war, saying he could not support sending more

Americans into a conflict that, in his view, does not serve the country’s interests.

“I cannot support sending the next generation to fight and die in a war that brings no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives” he wrote.

Following his resignation, Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, defended Trump’s decision. She said it is the president’s responsibility to assess threats and act accordingly, adding that the administration relied on the best intelligence available.(Bhea Bianca S. Sadaya, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)