“The war was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent wrote on social media, making his stance clear.
AMERICA, — Joe Kent, a native of Oregon and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation from the position on Tuesday morning.
Kent posted the announcement to social media, stating in part that he “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.”
This resignation follows weeks after a series of U.S. strikes on Iran ignited an ongoing conflict in the region, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial trade route for oil and other goods.
As oil prices soared, Trump reportedly demanded that roughly a half-dozen countries dispatch warships to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press. However, his appeals yielded no immediate commitments, with many nations expressing reluctance to engage in a war without a defined exit plan and skepticism about their ability to do more than the U.S. Navy.
RELATED: Israel reports killing two senior Iranian officials, a significant wartime blow to the nation’s leadership.
Kent, originally from Sweet Home, Oregon, previously ran for Congress twice in Washington state’s 3rd District, which includes Clark County. He lost both elections to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. President Donald Trump appointed him to the position in early 2025.
This is a developing story. Stay with KGW for further updates.