Top US Counterintelligence Official Resigns, Citing Concerns Over Iran War
WASHINGTON – Joseph Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his post, delivering a scathing critique of the ongoing war in Iran and accusing President Trump of abandoning his previously stated non-interventionist foreign policy principles. Kent’s resignation, reported Tuesday, comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and growing international concern over the conflict’s humanitarian impact.
In a resignation letter, Kent stated he could “not in good conscience support the ongoing war,” which he attributed to “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He further emphasized the conflict was a departure from the President’s earlier approach, recalling Trump’s success in “decisively apply[ing] military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars,” citing the killing of Qassem Soleimani and the defeat of ISIS during his first term.
Kent, a veteran who served in combat eleven times and a Gold Star husband, underscored the human cost of continued military involvement. He wrote of losing his wife, Shannon, in a war he believed was “manufactured by Israel,” and expressed his unwillingness to send another generation to fight in a conflict that does not benefit the American people.
The resignation follows a joint US-Israeli missile strike on Iran that killed its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, prompting retaliatory attacks from Iran targeting several Middle Eastern countries, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Kent’s views align with those of Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, to whom he reported, and with whom he consistently advocated for a more restrained foreign policy.
The conflict’s impact extends beyond the immediate region. The UN’s World Food Programme warned Tuesday that the war could push millions more into acute hunger, potentially raising global hunger levels to an all-time record. WFP deputy executive director Carl Skau stated that if the conflict continues, 45 million more people could be affected, adding to the 319 million already struggling with hunger.
A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on June 24, 2025, but tensions remain high. Donald Trump has also reportedly been pressuring NATO and China to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
