Former counterterrorism official urges Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from Middle East
Joe Kent, a former National Counterterrorism Center director, called for President Trump to pull U.S. forces out of the region, while the White House defended the president’s approach to Iran.
Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent reiterated his call for President Donald Trump to remove U.S. troops from the Middle East. Kent said Trump’s decision to halt strikes on Iran was “a good decision” and warned that continued military presence could lead to a “catastrophic escalation into a bloody, years-long war.” He suggested that the United States could achieve its objectives through sanctions relief and diplomatic pressure rather than force.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle responded that the president’s actions are aimed at protecting American lives and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, emphasizing that national-security decisions are based on the country’s best interests rather than public opinion.
In a Truth Social post, Trump indicated that the United States would pause new attacks on Iran pending a deal that would open the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s nuclear program. The post claimed Iran had asked the United States to hold off further strikes.
Iranian officials, cited by Mehr News Agency and reported by other outlets, rejected the claim, describing Trump’s statements as false.