Arabic version: جو كينت يستقيل من منصبه كرئيس لمكافحة الإرهاب بسبب الصراع مع إيران

Joe Kent, one of the top counterterrorism officials in the United States, has resigned from his position as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, citing concerns over the ongoing war against Iran. On Tuesday, he published a copy of his resignation letter on the social media platform X, addressing his correspondence to US President Donald Trump, stating, “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.” According to Al Jazeera, Kent expressed that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the U.S. and criticized the war as being influenced by Israeli pressure.

Kent, 45, is a former soldier with the US Army Special Forces who completed multiple combat deployments, including tours during the US-led war in Iraq. Following his military career, he worked as a paramilitary officer for the CIA before launching a political career, where he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2022 and 2024. His resignation marks a notable dissent within the Trump administration regarding the military’s engagement in Iran.

In his resignation letter, Kent highlighted that he supported Trump’s previous foreign policy stance of avoiding “never-ending wars”. He argued that misinformation from media and lobbyists led Trump to misjudge the threat from Iran, drawing parallels to past conflicts, including the Iraq War.

Political analysts suggest that Kent’s resignation could have implications for Trump’s Iran war policy, though it is uncertain how much influence it will wield. While some Republicans praised Kent’s principled stance, others criticized him, indicating a divide within the party regarding the administration’s military strategies. Kent’s high profile among Trump’s supporters may signal broader discontent within the MAGA base regarding the war in Iran and its justification.