Washington. Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned Tuesday, citing concerns over the justification for US military strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” support the Trump administration’s war.

“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 said in a statement posted on social media.

Kent, a former political candidate with ties to far-right figures, was confirmed to the post last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he oversaw an agency responsible for analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.

His resignation underscores unease within President Donald Trump’s political base over the war and highlights broader questions about the justification for the use of force in Iran, including among senior administration officials.

The leadership change comes amid heightened concerns about domestic terrorism following attacks in the past week at a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia university.

Trump has offered shifting explanations for the strikes and has pushed back on claims that Israel forced the United States to act. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the White House believed Israel was prepared to act independently, leaving Trump with a “very difficult decision.”

A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The White House also did not comment on Kent’s resignation.

Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation, citing his past associations with far-right figures and conspiracy theories. Still, following his resignation, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent’s concerns about the Iran war were valid.

“I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community,” Warner said. “But on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”

Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel are scheduled to testify before lawmakers later this week on threats facing the United States. The annual hearing is expected to focus heavily on the Iran conflict, including reports that outdated intelligence may have led to a US missile strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 165 people.

A military veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has previously warned against military action in Iran. Six years ago, she said “an all-out war with Iran would make the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic,” citing the potential for significantly higher costs in lives and resources.

Her office did not respond when asked whether she supports the current strikes, and she has not commented publicly on Iran since the military action began last month.

Before joining the Trump administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful congressional campaigns in Washington state. He previously served as a Green Beret with 11 deployments and later worked at the CIA.

During his 2022 campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right group Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked with Joey Gibson, founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and received backing from several far-right figures.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent declined to distance himself from conspiracy theories that federal agents instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, as well as false claims that Trump won the 2020 election.

Democrats also questioned his participation in a Signal group chat used by Trump’s national security team to discuss sensitive military plans.

Republicans, however, defended Kent’s qualifications, citing his military and intelligence background. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent had “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”