Joe Kent, former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), has issued a public call for the immediate withdrawal of American military forces from the Middle East, stating that the United States cannot achieve a military victory over Iran. Kent made the remarks in a statement posted to the social media platform X on July 22, emphasizing the need for direct negotiations with regional adversaries and warning against further military engagement.

Kent resigned from his position as NCTC director on March 17, 2026, citing his inability to support the current U.S. military campaign against Tehran. In his recent statement, he described the ongoing conflict as a strategic dead end, drawing comparisons to previous prolonged military involvements in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. "We could not militarily defeat the Houthis in 2025. We know we can’t militarily defeat Iran now. We will certainly not be able to defeat both of them simultaneously," Kent wrote, underscoring the limitations of U.S. military power in the region.

Highlighting Iran’s control over key maritime routes, Kent pointed to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb as critical chokepoints that impact global shipping and energy markets. He suggested that a military approach to securing these corridors carries excessive risk and argued that withdrawing troops could enhance U.S. diplomatic leverage. According to Kent, such a move would help avert a potential global energy crisis and improve America’s standing in the region.

Kent also criticized elements within the U.S. national security establishment, urging policymakers to disregard what he described as repetitive warnings influenced by neoconservative groups and pro-Israel lobbying efforts. He characterized these narratives about weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as tactics designed to entangle the U.S. in a prolonged and costly conflict.

Reiterating his assessment that Iran does not pose an imminent threat to the U.S. homeland, Kent argued that American involvement has largely been driven by external pressures from foreign allies and domestic lobbying networks rather than clear security imperatives. A former Green Beret and CIA officer with 11 combat deployments, Kent concluded his statement by addressing President Donald Trump directly, advocating for an immediate troop withdrawal as the best course of action to prevent mass casualties, economic destabilization, and to restore public confidence in government policy.