WASHINGTON: The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Joe Kent, resigned on Tuesday in protest over the war with Iran, becoming the most senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the conflict.
In a resignation letter posted on X, Kent said he could not support the ongoing military campaign, arguing that Iran did not pose an immediate danger to the United States.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote.
“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 American lobby.”
He also urged Trump to reconsider the course of the conflict.
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
First senior resignation over war
Kent’s departure marks the first high-level resignation linked directly to the US military offensive against Iran, which began late on February 28.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) also did not comment.
According to Reuters, intelligence officials were caught off guard by Kent’s resignation.
Some legal experts cited by Reuters said that demonstrating an “imminent threat” is typically required under US law to justify launching military action.
Kent had been confirmed by Senate Republicans last summer and had served less than a year in the role.
Close ties to intelligence chief
Kent is known to be close to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, under whom he had also served as acting chief of staff.
Gabbard has kept a low public profile since the conflict began and has not issued public statements on the war.
She has only appeared publicly during ceremonies for US service members killed in the conflict with Iran.
Fourteen American personnel have been reported killed since the start of the campaign.
Criticism of war planning
In his resignation letter, Kent alleged that the Trump administration had been misled into war.
He claimed that “high-ranking Israeli officials” and influential US media figures had spread misinformation suggesting Iran posed an imminent threat.
“This echo was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States,” Kent wrote. “This was a lie.”
