Top U.S. Intel Official Resigns, Accuses Trump Iran War of Being Driven by Israel Pressure

Joe Kent, the top U.S. counterterrorism official, abruptly resigned, directly challenging the Trump administration’s justification for war with Iran.

Kent said he could not support the conflict, claiming Iran posed “no imminent threat” and alleging the war was driven by Israeli pressure rather than U.S. security needs. According to AP News and Reuters, his resignation makes him the highest-ranking official to step down over the war so far.

The move has stunned Washington, with intelligence officials reportedly caught off guard and no immediate response from the White House or Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The conflict itself began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes, but Kent’s public break signals rare internal dissent, even among Trump-aligned figures.

According to multiple reports, questions are now growing inside D.C. over whether the legal threshold for war was met—and whether more officials could follow Kent out the door.

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