Joseph Kent, head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned. He stated that the US faced no immediate threat from Iran. He questioned the Trump administration's decisions and opposed the war, exposing divisions within the Trump administration.

Joseph Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned in protest of the ongoing war with Iran. He is the first and most senior official in the Donald Trump administration to resign over the war. Kent posted his resignation on the social media platform X. He wrote, "In my conscience, I cannot support this war. There was no immediate threat to the US from Iran. This war was started under pressure from Israel and its influential lobby."

Just hours after the attack on Iran, President Donald Trump stated that he had taken this step to protect the American people and eliminate the threat posed by the Iranian regime. Kent, in his resignation letter, rejected Trump's statement. Some experts also say that an immediate threat is necessary to attack a country or start a war. In such a situation, Kent's statement has raised questions about this war. Trump said that Kent was weak on security matters, and he is glad that Kent is no longer there. He believed that Iran was not a threat. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond. This news surprised intelligence officials.

Joseph Kent was a CIA officer.

Joseph Kent is considered close to National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard has made very few statements since the Iran war began. She was only publicly seen during the transfer of the bodies of US soldiers killed in the Iran war. Kent, 45, is a veteran of the US Special Forces and the CIA. His personal life has also been quite high-profile. His wife, Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide attack in Syria in 2019. Kent's resignation comes at a time of rising tensions between the US and Iran. His move makes it clear that there are differences within the US government regarding this war, and not everyone agrees with this decision.

Read Kent's full letter...

President Trump,

After much thought, I have decided to resign from my post today.

I cannot support this ongoing war with Iran. I believe Iran poses no immediate threat to the United States. This war was initiated under pressure from Israel and its influential figures.

I support your policies, which you outlined during your first election. You also previously believed that wars in the Middle East are detrimental to our country. They cost our soldiers their lives and waste our country's money.

During your first term, you used force appropriately without getting drawn into protracted conflicts. You demonstrated this by killing Qassem Soleimani and defeating ISIS.

But this time, some people have created a false impression that Iran poses a significant threat. You've been led to believe that a quick attack will lead to victory, but that's not true. The same thing happened in the previous Iraq War, and we suffered heavy losses.

I've been a soldier and served in combat 11 times. My wife, Shannon, was killed in an attack. Therefore, I cannot support a war that costs our lives and provides no benefit to the country.

I urge you to reconsider this decision. There is still time to change course. What you do next is in your hands.

It has been an honour for me to work with you and serve the country.

Joseph Kent

Director National Counter Terrorism Centre

The White House dismissed Kent's statement.

Following the resignation, White House Press Secretary Caroline Lavette defended the government, saying that the claim that there was no immediate threat from Iran was false. According to her, Trump had reliable intelligence that Iran was preparing to attack. She stated that Iran was a major sponsor of terrorism and was rapidly expanding its missile and nuclear capabilities. According to Lavette, the Trump administration offered numerous opportunities for dialogue and agreement, but Iran rejected them.

This is why the US, in collaboration with Israel, launched Operation Epic Fury to pre-empt potential threats and ensure national security. Levitt also clarified that under the US Constitution, the president has the authority to determine which threats are real, as the public has elected him to that responsibility. Finally, he categorically rejected the allegation that Trump made his decision under external pressure, especially from another country.

PC:TV9Bharatvarsh