Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat - AP News
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Top counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat.
How This Affects You
If military escalation with Iran continues without clear threat justification, Americans could face higher gas prices, inflation from defense spending, and potential military deployment of family members.
AI Summary
A top counterterrorism official named Kent has resigned in protest over the Trump administration's military actions against Iran, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to justify the escalation. Kent's departure represents a significant breach within the administration's national security apparatus, as a senior official publicly contradicted the strategic rationale behind a major foreign policy decision. The resignation underscores internal disagreement over Iran policy and suggests skepticism within counterterrorism circles about whether the threat level warranted military response. High-level departures over policy disagreements typically signal deeper divisions within an administration and can raise questions about the underlying intelligence or decision-making process. Kent's stance reflects a broader debate within the national security community about the proper threshold for military action and the assessment of threats.
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National SecurityTop US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war
The director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has announced his resignation, saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war in Iran. Kent said on social media that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
National SecurityTop U.S. counterterrorism official resigns, says "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation"
Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday over the Middle East conflict, saying "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation." CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has the latest.
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National SecurityUS offers reward for information on Iran's supreme leader, senior officials - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPRWRBSW9DZHVCaHJYcWJwUXkzTjNCT1E4Z0dqREZjRGI0YnozaWx3VGJpTUZDOFdnR0hsZG5OaEdqamdXdUczN3pSZE9PSWduVW96X3FDRUxzU3NLSTZxLWlFX1lTM0hNT1FjYVNTMFRVeWltUHlpTFppTG5HVFpsZHVrY25odVdZRzdsU25pSjNBWlBpVHVqSmNrd28xOEF6RzFTa19XMnBoUUxHT2VOTTcteGoyam5kY1B1bA?oc=5" target="_blank">US offers reward for information on Iran's supreme leader, senior officials</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
PoliticsTrump visits Ohio and Kentucky to downplay war's effect on economy and target a top GOP antagonist - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPc0xDZm1BUmZPaDIwZUowdC1UZ2NTNldDRXRfbkNZU2dPMVg3dzRZVExVbUdLVjlUUWRfNWxmaTNVblFOS1JaY3VhQUNPN0VjcEpMMC05TDFmQkZyZnRUR2lDUkJTZVFwbVVLdXVBUUM0MUhtT1dfR3h1RWIyNndxSjVGRy1qT2s1Mmd3WFpwaWQyYUh0d0hoN3VnaTRPR1pRRXNNVFpR?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump visits Ohio and Kentucky to downplay war's effect on economy and target a top GOP antagonist</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
National SecurityPentagon briefs lawmakers on cost of war on Iran – but true price tag remains unknown
<p>The US already spent more than $11.3bn in first six days of conflict, but price tag does not include all spending</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-military">Pentagon</a> officials told top lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday that the cost of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-israel-war-on-iran">war against Iran</a> has already exceeded $11.3bn in its first six days, but the true cost of the opening days of the conflict is likely far greater, according to two people familiar with the matter.</p><p>This figure, first reported by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com...

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In the opening days of his war against Iran, Donald Trump had a message for members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps: Surrender and get “total immunity”—or face “absolutely guaranteed death.” An elite armed force that exists outside Iran’s normal military structure, the IRGC began as the ayatollah’s personal strike force. But during the country’s […]
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