US top counterterrorism official resigns in protest of Iran war

Joe Kent, Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), has resigned from his position in protest against the ongoing war in Iran.

Kent announced his resignation in a post on X, stating that he could not “support the war in Iran,” Caliber.Az reports.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026

“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

It has been an honor serving under  POTUS and DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC.

May God bless America,” Kent wrote.

By Vafa Guliyeva