Top Trump Official Resigns Over Iran War: ‘After Much Reflection…’

His resignation comes as lawmakers and analysts increasingly question the intelligence used to justify the strikes on Iran. While Trump initially defended the operation by citing an “imminent threat” to U.S. forces, that claim has been complicated by Pentagon briefings to Congress indicating that Iran was not planning an attack unless provoked.

In his letter, Kent pointed to what he described as a shift in the administration’s approach compared to Trump’s earlier stance against prolonged Middle East conflicts. He referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, and argued that the president had previously favored limited, targeted uses of force.

Kent also cited the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as an example of what he viewed as a more restrained strategy.