POLITICS
Top US counterterrorism chief Joe Kent resigns over Iran war, saying Tehran posed “no imminent threat”
The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has stepped down in protest over Washington’s war with Iran, arguing that the country posed no immediate threat to the United States and raising questions about the justification for the conflict.
2 min read
By Aurax Radio — Updated March 17, 2026
Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest of the Iran war.
The head of the National Counterterrorism Center has resigned in protest of the United States’ war with Iran, marking the first high-profile departure from the administration since the conflict began.
Joe Kent announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he could not support the war launched under the administration of Donald Trump. In a statement, Kent argued that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States and said he could not in good conscience back the military campaign.
Kent’s departure comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran and growing debate in Washington over the legal and strategic justification for the conflict. The war began after US and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure earlier this year, a move that has triggered retaliatory actions and heightened instability across the Middle East.
The National Counterterrorism Center coordinates intelligence analysis on global terror threats.
Criticism of the war
In his resignation letter, Kent questioned the rationale behind the US decision to enter the conflict, saying intelligence assessments did not support claims that Iran posed an immediate danger. He also suggested that external pressure influenced the decision to launch military operations.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote, according to reports.
His comments highlight internal divisions within the administration and the intelligence community over the direction of US foreign policy and the risks of a prolonged conflict with Tehran.
Kent had been appointed director of the counterterrorism center in 2025 after a Senate confirmation vote. A former US Army Special Forces soldier and intelligence officer, he previously served in multiple deployments during the so-called war on terror before moving into national security policy roles.
Political reactions
Kent’s resignation has drawn mixed reactions from political leaders in Washington.
Some lawmakers and analysts say his departure underscores concerns that the war may have been launched without clear evidence of an imminent threat. Others have criticized Kent’s claims, pointing to his past political controversies and affiliations with far-right figures during his previous congressional campaigns.
The resignation also places additional scrutiny on the administration’s intelligence assessments and the broader strategy behind the war.
Map showing Iran and major U.S. and Israeli strike locations across the Middle East, including targets inside Iran and retaliatory attacks affecting regional countries and U.S. military sites.
Pressure on US intelligence leadership
The National Counterterrorism Center operates under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and plays a central role in analysing terrorist threats and coordinating intelligence across US agencies.
Kent’s exit now raises questions about leadership stability within the US intelligence community at a time when the Middle East conflict continues to escalate and global security risks are increasing.
The White House has not yet announced who will replace him on an interim basis.
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBcC News, AP News and NBC News
