Joe Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Centre, is the first senior official in Trump’s administration to resign over the conflict, now in its third week.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. ​Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this ​war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby,” Kent wrote in a letter ⁠posted to social media.

Some experts have said an imminent threat would be required for the United States to ​launch a war under the international law of war.

Kent and the White House did not immediately respond to requests ​for comment.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the counterterrorism centre, also did not immediately respond.

KENT KNOWN FOR OPPOSING MILITARY INTERVENTIONS

Kent has long been known for his “America First” beliefs and has said he opposes U.S. military interventions abroad.

Still, the announcement ​came as a surprise, one U.S. official said.

Kent is close with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has ​kept a low profile since the Iran war began.

Gabbard has not issued any public statements and has only appeared in public ‌during ⁠the dignified transfer of American soldiers killed earlier this month during the conflict with Iran.

The National Intelligence Council, which is overseen by Gabbard’s office, issued several assessments both before and after the U.S. strikes began that highlighted the risks of U.S. intervention.

Those reports indicated the Iranian government was unlikely to collapse and Iran would likely retaliate against U.S. ​outposts in the region and ​Gulf allies, as Reuters ⁠previously reported.

Kent has been criticised by Democrats for his associations with far-right figures, and Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said he should ​never have been confirmed to head the counterterrorism office.

“But on this point, he is ​right: There was ⁠no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice,” Warner said in a statement.

Last year, Kent pushed intelligence analysts, opens new tab to rework an assessment on Tren De Aragua, a ⁠Venezuelan gang, ​that did not support the White House’s argument that Venezuelan President ​Nicolas Maduro was directing its operations. The administration had portrayed the gang as a security threat to justify its immigration crackdown.