"After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war with Iran. They are not an imminent threat to our country. It is clear we entered this war due to pressure from Israel and their powerful lobbying organizations in the US," Joe Kent, Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), declared on X on 17/3.

He attached a letter to President Donald Trump in the post. Kent wrote that Israeli officials and influential media figures in the US have pushed a disinformation campaign to provoke war with Iran.

According to him, this campaign led the US government to mistakenly believe Iran was an imminent threat that could be quickly defeated. Kent asserted this tactic was similar to how the US was drawn into the Iraq war previously.

In his resignation letter, Kent emphasized his support for the values and foreign policies Trump articulated during his 2016, 2020, and 2024 election campaigns.

However, he stated that the conflicts in the Middle East have cost the US many soldiers' lives and depleted national resources. He urged President Trump to reflect carefully on the war and consider changing course while there is still time.

"The time for decisive action is now. You can reverse the situation and chart a new path for the country," he wrote.

Joe Kent, Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, debates in Oregon during his 2024 congressional campaign. *Photo: AP*

The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have not commented. Several US intelligence officials told AP they were surprised by the resignation.

Kent is the first high-ranking official in the Trump administration to resign in protest of the war with Iran. As head of the NCTC, he was responsible for the agency that analyzes and identifies terrorist threats against the US.

Before joining the Trump administration, Kent ran for Congress twice in Washington state but was unsuccessful both times. He served in the military with 11 deployments in the Green Berets, then worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The Senate confirmed him as NCTC director in 7/2025 with a 52-44 vote. The appointment faced strong opposition from Democratic senators, while many Republican senators praised his experience and expertise. Senator Tom Cotton, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, once stated Kent "dedicated his entire career to counterterrorism and protecting the American people."

Recently, Iran has continuously launched missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting US military facilities and civilian targets in several Gulf countries, in retaliation for a campaign launched by the US and Israel on 28/2.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that over 200 US soldiers were injured in 16 days of conflict with Iran, with 10 serious cases. The US military recorded 7 soldiers killed in Iranian attacks. Additionally, 6 other service members died last week when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

*Thanh Danh (According to AP, Reuters)*