image sourced from original article at Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said President Donald Trump had been close to securing a stronger nuclear agreement with Iran than the Obama-era nuclear deal before the recent war began. In a post on social media, Kent argued that Iran both feared and respected Trump, citing the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani and claiming Tehran was open to negotiations when Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Kent, who resigned in March over his opposition to the conflict, said Iran halted proxy attacks against American forces at the start of Trump’s new term in hopes of reaching an agreement. He urged the president to 'correct course' by easing the military standoff, restraining Israel, and using potential sanctions relief to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive nuclear talks.
The White House sharply criticized Kent’s claims, calling them false and defending Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury as necessary to counter an imminent threat from Iran. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, the head of United States Central Command testified that Iran and its proxies had carried out roughly 350 attacks on American personnel over the previous 30 months, a timeline Kent disputes.
