In a post on X on Thursday, Kent said US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, claimed before the conflict began that Iran was not building a nuclear bomb and would retaliate if attacked by Israel or the United States.“One of the many tragedies of this war is that before the war began, the U.S. intelligence community, including the CIA, agreed that Iran was not developing a nuclear weapon and that Iran would target U.S. bases in the region and close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked by Israel and the United States,” Kent wrote.Kent also said intelligence officials warned that any attempt to target Iranian leadership would strengthen and anger some elements within the country.He added: “The International Intelligence Committee correctly assessed that targeting the Iranian leadership would strengthen the regime and encourage extremists. Despite the professionalism and accuracy of the International Intelligence Committee, the narrative and agenda spun by a foreign government – Israel, won the argument and forced us into this war.”
He added: “We need to understand exactly how this happened to ensure we are not put in this situation again.”Kent resigned from his position at the National Counterterrorism Center in March over disagreements over the conflict. In his resignation letter, he criticized the United States’ decision to enter the war and reiterated his view that Iran did not pose a direct threat to the United States. His idea faced backlash from Trump and his Republican supporters.At the time, Kent said: “I cannot in good conscience support an ongoing war in Iran. Iran poses no imminent threat to our nation, and we clearly started this war because of pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”The White House rejected Kent’s comments. In a statement to Fox News, White House spokesman Davis Engel accused the former counterterrorism official of spreading false allegations about the role of Iran and Israel in the conflict.“Joe Kent’s arrogant resignation letter and recent comments are full of lies,” Engel said. “Most egregious are Kent’s false claims that the largest state sponsor of terrorism does not somehow pose a threat to the United States, and that Israel forced the president to launch Operation Epic Rage.”“As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump took decisive action based on strong evidence that showed the Iranian terrorist regime posed an imminent threat and was preparing to strike Americans first.
He added that President Trump’s first priority has always been ensuring the safety and security of the American people.US President Donald Trump also denied suggestions that Israel had convinced him to join the war. In an April post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision was based on his long-standing position on Iran and the fallout from a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.“Israel has never convinced me to go to war with Iran, and the results of October 7 have added to my longstanding opinion that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” Trump wrote.
