The director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, today submitted his resignation to president Donald Trump in protest against the war the country and Israel are waging against Iran.
“I cannot in good conscience support the war being waged in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we initiated this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby in the United States,” Kent wrote in a letter addressed to Trump.
The National Counterterrorism Center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was created following the September 11, 2001 attacks to gather intelligence on international terrorism.
Read more: Iran War: Donald Trump rules out conflict ending this week (with video)
In his letter, Kent — a US Army veteran — recalled that Trump campaigned on the “America First” platform, arguing that “wars in the Middle East were a trap that cost the United States precious lives” of its soldiers and “the prosperity” of the country. He also accused senior Israeli officials of orchestrating “a disinformation campaign” to justify the offensive against Iran, “the same tactic the Israelis used” to drag the United States into “the disastrous Iraq war.”
“I pray that you reflect on what we are doing in Iran and for whom we are doing it. The time to act with courage is now. You can change course,” Kent wrote in the letter to Trump.
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
The Iran war — in which at least 13 US military personnel have died so far and which has driven up petrol prices — has been criticised by some voices close to Trump, including journalist Tucker Carlson, who has argued it contradicts the Republican’s campaign promise to focus on domestic issues and keep the country out of foreign wars.
