Joe Kant, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his position, citing opposition to the United States’ involvement in the escalating Iran conflict under President Donald Trump.
Kant announced his decision in a resignation letter shared on his official X account on Tuesday, stating that he could no longer support the ongoing war.
According to him, Iran does not pose any immediate threat to the United States, adding that the conflict was driven by external pressure.
“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today (Tuesday).
“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.
“I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, and 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.
“In your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasam Solamani and by defeating ISIS. Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq War that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.
“As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.
“I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran and who we are doing it for.
“The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.
“It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation,” he wrote.
The resignation comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, with the Iran-US-Israel conflict now stretching beyond two weeks.
The crisis has already impacted global markets, with crude oil prices climbing above $100 per barrel amid uncertainty in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, European leaders have pushed back against calls by President Donald Trump to deploy troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz, further highlighting divisions among Western allies over the escalating situation.
