US counterterrorism center chief resigns, urging Trump to ‘reverse course’ on Iran

Donald Trump’s top counterterrorism official has resigned over the war in Iran, urging the president to “reverse course”, the BBC writes.

In a letter posted on X, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the US and claimed the administration “started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”

The White House dismissed the letter, saying the president had “compelling evidence” that Iran was going to attack the US first.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said Kent was a “nice guy”, but “weak on security.” He also said Kent’s resignation letter had made him realize “it was a good thing that he’s out.”

With his departure, Kent is the most high-profile figure within the Trump administration to publicly criticize the US-Israeli attack on Iran.