'Cannot support Iran war': Joseph Kent resigns as head of US National Counterterrorism Center

"⁠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 lobby," Kent said.

Washington: The head of the National Counterterrorism Center ⁠resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most ⁠senior member of US President ‌Donald Trump's administration to ​resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States.

"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 lobby," Joseph Kent wrote in a letter to ‌Trump posted on X.

Some experts have said an imminent ⁠threat would be required for the United States to launch a ‌war under current law.

The White ‌House did not immediately respond to ‌a request for comment. The Office of ‌the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately respond.

Intelligence officials were caught off guard by the ⁠news.

Kent is ⁠close with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has kept a low profile since the Iran war began.

Gabbard has not issued any public statements and has only appeared in public during the ​dignified transfer of American soldiers killed earlier this ​month during the ​conflict with Iran.