Former Counterterrorism Chief Disputes Claims Iran Was Near Nuclear Breakthrough

A former senior intelligence official says U.S. agencies had no evidence Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon, contradicting the justification for recent military strikes.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said Wednesday that U.S. intelligence did not indicate Iran was close to acquiring nuclear weapons, challenging assertions made by President Donald Trump’s administration in support of military action.

Speaking on The Tucker Carlson Show, Kent said there was no intelligence suggesting Iran had reached a critical stage in nuclear weapons development. “No, they weren’t three weeks ago when this started, and they weren’t in June either. The Iranians have had a religious ruling, a fatwa, against actually developing a nuclear weapon since 2004,” Kent said. “That’s been in place since 2004, that’s available in the public sphere. But also we had no intelligence to indicate that that fatwa was being disobeyed or that it was on the cusp of being lifted.”

Kent’s remarks came as the administration continued to defend a series of strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, arguing the operations were necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear capabilities. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Kent’s statements.

Kent resigned Tuesday from his position within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, citing opposition to the conflict. He said he could not support the military campaign and disputed claims that Iran posed an immediate threat. He also suggested that Israeli leadership played a role in influencing U.S. involvement in the strikes.

Administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have maintained that the military action was aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and dismantling its ballistic missile systems. U.S. forces carried out strikes on several Iranian nuclear-related sites, including Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow, on June 22, 2025.

Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons under any circumstances, including during a June 2025 interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier. However, since the current phase of the conflict began on Feb. 28, the administration has not publicly detailed specific intelligence indicating an imminent threat to the United States.

In a letter to Congress, Trump said the strikes were conducted to “neutralize Iran’s malign activities” and to “advance vital United States national interests.”

Rubio said in early March that U.S. officials were aware of Israeli plans to strike Iran, adding that such actions would likely prompt retaliation against American forces and could result in increased casualties.