The head of the National Counterterrorism Center has resigned, becoming the first senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the ongoing war in Iran.
Joseph Kent announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the president and shared on X. In the message, he said he could not support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed the war was initiated under pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence.
Legal experts have noted that, under current U.S. law, military action is typically justified only in response to an imminent threat, raising questions about the basis for the conflict.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also declined to comment.
Kent’s departure reportedly caught intelligence officials off guard. He is known to be closely aligned with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has maintained a low public profile since the conflict began.
Gabbard has not issued formal statements on the war and has appeared publicly only during the dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed earlier this month in the conflict with Iran.