US counterterrorism chief quits in protest over Iran war

(SeaPRwire) –   Joe Kent has stated that Israel and its “powerful American lobby” have pulled Washington into yet another “never-ending” war

Joe Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has stepped down in protest against Washington’s war with Iran, asserting that Israel has drawn the U.S. into another “never‑ending” conflict that fails to serve American interests.

A former military officer with CIA experience, Kent was appointed to the counterterrorism chief role by U.S. President Donald Trump—nominated in February 2025 and confirmed by the Senate that July. Prior to leaving the military in 2018, he completed 11 combat tours, most of them in Iraq.

“I cannot, in good conscience, back the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no immediate threat to our nation,” Kent wrote in a resignation letter he posted on X this Tuesday. He further noted that “it is clear we initiated this war due to pressure from Israel and its influential American lobby.”

Late last month, Washington and West Jerusalem launched unprovoked strikes on the Islamic Republic while blaming Tehran for the conflict and openly pushing for regime change. The U.S. and Israel described the operation as a preemptive attack aimed at stopping Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon—an ambition Iran denies.

Kent alleged that Trump fell victim to an Israeli-orchestrated misinformation campaign that deceived him into believing Tehran was a threat. He argued that similar falsehoods were used to pull the U.S. into the 2003 Iraq War.

“We cannot repeat this mistake,” the outgoing counterterrorism chief declared. “I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that offers no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives,” he added.

Kent’s announcement came just a day after Axios reported that Trump was allegedly considering the seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island offshore oil hub—a move that would likely require a ground operation.

U.S.-Israeli attacks have reportedly killed over 1,000 Iranian civilians so far, triggering retaliatory strikes across the Middle East that effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—a key oil and gas shipping lane.