'No intel on Iran sneak attack, Khamenei was moderating nukes': Trump ex-aide's big claims

Former Donald Trump adjutant Joe Kent, who precocious resigned arsenic manager of the US nationalist counterterrorism center, made beardown claims astir Iran’s atomic programme, saying Tehran was not adjacent to becoming a atomic power.Kent besides said that erstwhile ultimate person Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed successful US-Israeli strikes, had been “moderating their atomic program,” and suggested determination was small justification for the warfare that, according to him, Israel drew the United States into.His resignation came amid the ongoing Iran conflict, a cardinal portion of Trump’s assertive strategy toward Tehran. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an probe into Kent implicit alleged unauthorised disclosures of classified information.

No quality of large Iran attack

In his archetypal interrogation aft stepping down, Kent dismissed reports suggesting Iran was readying a large-scale onslaught connected the United States akin to 9/11 attacks oregon Attack connected Pearl Harbor.“There was nary quality that said, hey, connected immoderate time it was, March 1st, the Iranians are going to motorboat this large sneak attack, they’re going to bash immoderate benignant of a 9/11, Pearl Harbor, etc. They’re going to onslaught 1 of our bases.

There was nary of that intelligence,” Kent told successful Tucker Carlson podcast.His remarks basal successful opposition to repeated statements by Trump and the White House, which cited an “imminent threat” from Iran arsenic justification for launching strikes.

Khamenei ‘moderated’ atomic programme

Joe Kent further argued that Iran’s precocious Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed past period successful associated US-Israeli strikes, had been moderating the country’s atomic programme.“I’m nary instrumentality of the erstwhile ultimate leader, you know, Ali Khamenei, however, helium was moderating their atomic program. He was preventing them from getting a atomic weapon,” helium said, warning, “If you instrumentality him out, if you termination him aggressively, radical are going to rally astir that regime.”Asked by Tucker Carlson whether Iran was connected the verge of acquiring a atomic weapon, Kent replied, “No, they weren’t,” adding that Iran’s strategy was “to not wholly wantonness the atomic program.”

Blames Israel’s relation successful conflict

Kent besides claimed that Israel had efficaciously drawn the United States into the struggle and was exerting wide power implicit American argumentation successful the Middle East.He referred to remarks by Marco Rubio, who earlier argued that Iran posed an imminent menace due to the fact that the US believed Israel was preparing to onslaught and Iran would retaliate. Kent described this reasoning arsenic flawed, saying determination was nary denotation Iran would onslaught without provocation.“So, the imminent menace that the caput of authorities is describing is not from Iran. It’s from Israel,” Carlson asked.“Exactly,” Kent responded. “And I deliberation this speaks to the broader issue: who is successful complaint of our argumentation successful the Middle East.”Resignation and FBI probeKent, who has antecedently faced disapproval for alleged associations with far-right figures, including achromatic nationalists and a Nazi sympathiser, focused heavy connected Israel successful his resignation letter.

Some Republicans person accused him of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories.Meanwhile, the FBI has opened an probe into Kent implicit alleged unauthorised disclosures of classified information, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with the matter. The enquiry has been nether mode for months and continued aft Kent announced his resignation connected Tuesday successful protestation against the US warfare with Iran.In his resignation missive posted connected X, Kent said helium could not enactment “sending the adjacent procreation disconnected to combat and dice successful a warfare that serves nary payment to the American people.” He argued that Iran did not airs an imminent menace and accused Israel of misleading the medication into the struggle that began connected February 28 with US and Israeli strikes.

US response

US President Donald Trump, speaking successful the Oval Office, rejected Kent’s assessment, saying helium had agelong disagreed with his views. Trump reiterated that Iran “was a threat” and added that it was “a bully thing” Kent had stepped down.