US intelligence official resigns citing Iran war, says he ‘cannot in good conscience’ support it

A senior United States intelligence official resigned from his post on Tuesday, citing misgivings about the war with Iran launched by the US and Israel.

Joseph Kent, the director of national intelligence in the US’ National Counterterrorism Center, said in a letter to President Donald Trump: “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.”

Kent was the first member of the US administration to resign citing the war in West Asia.

The centre is a US government organisation within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that acts as the primary hub for analysing intelligence related to terrorism.

Kent said that he could not 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”.

There was no immediate response from the White House to the resignation.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and...

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