Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war

Joe Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned over the Trump administration's military operations in Iran, stating publicly that he cannot ethically support the war. Kent contended on social media that Iran posed no imminent threat and that the conflict resulted from pressure by Israel and its American supporters. The resignation of a top counterterrorism official marks a significant break with the White House at a moment of active military engagement. Kent's departure signals internal dissent within the national security establishment over the administration's Iran policy and raises questions about consensus within the intelligence community on the justification for the conflict. As the director of the government's primary counterterrorism agency, his exit carries weight among intelligence professionals and Congress.