US counterterror chief resigns over Iran war, cites ‘we started this war because of pressure from Israel’

WASHINGTON: Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent resigned on Tuesday, saying he could not support the ongoing war in Iran and citing concerns over its justification.

In a resignation letter posted on social media, Kent said he acted “in good conscience,” adding that Iran “posed no imminent threat” to the United States and ‘it was the US who started the war because of pressure from Israel’.

The move makes him the most senior official in the administration to step down over the conflict, highlighting internal divisions within US leadership as the war continues to escalate.

Kent also alleged that the decision to go to war was influenced by external pressure, including from Israel and its lobbying networks in the United States, a claim that has drawn significant political attention.

The White House and intelligence leadership have not immediately responded to the resignation, which reportedly surprised officials within the intelligence community.

Kent, a former military and intelligence officer appointed in 2025, had been responsible for coordinating US counterterrorism strategy and advising top leadership on national security threats.

His departure comes amid intensifying military operations linked to the Iran conflict, which began in late February and has already led to casualties and rising geopolitical tensions across the region.