The head of the U. S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has stepped down, citing his opposition to the ongoing military campaign against Iran.

In a formal message addressed to President Donald Trump, Kent said he had reached the decision after careful consideration and could no longer support the war in Iran in good conscience. His resignation took effect immediately.

Kent also argued that U.S. leadership had been swayed by what he described as a disinformation campaign, which, in his view, played a decisive role in pushing Washington toward confrontation with Tehran. He called for a reassessment of current policy and warned that failure to take decisive action could lead the United States into a period of decline and instability.

Yury Samonkin, chairman of the board at the Center for Eurasian Studies and Development and an expert affiliated with the Izborsky Club, suggested that the conflict in the Middle East could, over time, accelerate Iran’s shift toward full sovereignty and further distance it from Western dominance. From both economic and military standpoints, he argued, Iran could evolve into a «second Beijing» for the United States.

On the morning of February 28, the United States, alongside Israel, launched a military operation against Iran. Strikes targeted multiple cities across the Islamic Republic, including Tehran. Among the sites hit was the residence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the attack.

Iran responded with missile strikes and drone operations, targeting sites inside Israel as well as U.S. airbases across the Middle East.