A high-ranking American counterterrorism official, Joe Kent, resigned from his position as director of the National Counterterrorism Center over disagreements about the policy toward Iran. The FBI opened an investigation into whether he disclosed classified information.

In an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Kent claims that opposing viewpoints were excluded from the decision-making process before the American airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

"A significant number of key decision-makers were prevented from presenting their perspectives to the president", Kent said, emphasizing that "there was no real dialogue". He points out that considerable intelligence suggests Iran is not developing nuclear weapons nor poses an immediate threat to America.

Kent attributed the military action to Israeli pressure, claiming that "Israeli officials pushed the choice to launch this campaign". A former Green Beret and CIA officer, Kent decided to resign after realizing his warnings would be ignored.

Trump dismissed him as "weak on security", claiming Iran poses an "enormous threat".