Washington: Joe Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his position, citing moral objections to a potential war against Iran. In a statement released on social media, Kent said he could not support military action against Iran in good conscience.

Kent argued that Iran does not pose an immediate threat to the United States and claimed that any push for war was driven by Israel and its influential American lobby. In his resignation letter to former President Donald Trump, he alleged that Israeli officials played a role in involving the U.S. in the conflict and even conducted a disinformation campaign to achieve this objective.

He drew parallels between the arguments being made for attacking Iran and the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War highlighting exaggerated claims of quick success. Kent, a veteran who served in 11 combat operations also lost his wife, Shannon Kent, during a mission in Syria.

Kent emphasized that as someone who has personally experienced the costs of war, he could not support sending a new generation of Americans into a conflict that does not serve the U.S. public interest and would result in significant loss of life. His resignation underscores growing debate within U.S. security circles over potential action against Iran.