A top U.S. intelligence official has stepped down in protest over the ongoing war with Iran, accusing the Trump administration of being influenced by foreign pressure.
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation, saying he could not support the administration’s military campaign.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump.
Kent claimed that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States and argued the conflict was driven by outside influence.
“It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he wrote.
The claim was quickly rejected by current and former Trump administration officials.
Taylor Budowich, a former deputy White House chief of staff, sharply criticized Kent’s resignation.
“Joe Kent is a crazed egomaniac who was often at the center of national security leaks,” Budowich said.
“This isn’t some principled resignation—he just wanted to make a splash before getting canned,” he added.
The Trump administration has maintained that the decision to strike Iran was based on national security concerns.
Officials have pointed to intelligence assessments about Iran’s nuclear capabilities as a key factor.
Former Trump envoy Steve Witkoff previously said Iran had accumulated large quantities of enriched uranium.
According to Witkoff, Iran possessed roughly 460 kilograms enriched to 60 percent purity, a level that could be quickly converted into weapons-grade material.
He warned that such stockpiles could potentially be used to produce multiple nuclear weapons in a short timeframe.
“They were proud of it,” Witkoff said of Iranian negotiators.
“They were proud that they had evaded oversight protocols to reach that point,” he added.
Former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino also pushed back on Kent’s claims.
“The Iranian theocracy was an imminent threat,” Bongino said.
“They were committed to our destruction and anyone telling you otherwise is misleading you,” he added.
Kent’s resignation also sparked strong reactions from members of the public, including military families.
A Gold Star wife whose husband was killed in an Iranian-linked attack rejected the idea that the conflict was driven by foreign interests.
“My husband didn’t die for Israel,” she said. “Our service members have been in the crosshairs of Iranian-backed terror networks for years.”
Kent has previously voiced opposition to military action against Iran.
In a past interview, he warned that direct strikes could strengthen the Iranian regime by rallying public support behind it.
He also cautioned that a broader war could lead to increased attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups across the region.
Kent had been closely aligned with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, previously serving as her chief of staff.
His departure marks a high-profile break within the intelligence community as the conflict with Iran continues.
The post Top Intel Official Joe Kent Quits Over Iran Strikes, Claims Israel Controls Trump appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
