Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned from his post over the ongoing war with Iran. He cited serious disagreements with the US government’s policy.

Kent said he stepped down after “much reflection.” He made it clear that he could no longer support the conflict. In his resignation letter to US President Donald Trump, he argued that Iran does not pose “no imminent threat” to the United States. He also claimed that “pressure” from Israel and its lobby had pushed the US into the war.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” he wrote. He also shared the letter publicly.

Personal Loss Shapes His Stand

Kent highlighted his personal experience. He served as an Army veteran and faced heavy loss during past conflicts. His wife, Shannon Kent, died in Syria in 2019 while serving as a Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer.

He said this loss shaped his views. He strongly opposed another war that, in his opinion, does not serve US interests.

“As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives,” he wrote.

Urges Trump to Rethink Strategy

Kent expressed support for Trump’s broader foreign policy approach. However, he urged the President to rethink the current strategy.

He said Trump had earlier recognised that long wars in the Middle East drain US resources and cost lives. He warned that continuing on the same path could lead to “decline and chaos.”

Kent also said Trump once understood that such wars were a “trap” for the United States. He praised Trump’s earlier approach, which focused on limited military actions.

He referred to key decisions from Trump’s first term. These included the killing of Qasem Soleimani and operations against ISIS.

Background and Career

Kent took charge of the counterterrorism centre in July last year. The agency focuses on analysing and preventing terrorist threats.

Before this role, he served as a Green Beret and completed multiple combat deployments. Later, he worked with the CIA. He also ran for Congress twice in Washington state but did not win.