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(VIDEO) US Counterterrorism Joe Kent Resigns Over U.S. War in Iran, Claims Tehran Posed ‘No Imminent Threat’
WASHINGTON — Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation Tuesday, becoming the first senior official in the Trump administration to step down in protest over the ongoing U.S. military involvement in Iran.
In a statement posted on X, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience” continue to support what he described as an unnecessary war. He asserted that 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 American lobby.”
The resignation marks a significant break within the administration’s national security ranks amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. U.S. and allied forces have been engaged in strikes against Iranian targets since early March 2026, following a series of escalations that included Israeli operations and Iranian proxy attacks on regional interests.
Kent, a former Army Green Beret and longtime Trump supporter, was confirmed as NCTC director in July 2025 after a contentious Senate process. He had faced criticism during his nomination for past associations with far-right figures and promotion of conspiracy theories, but Republicans advanced his confirmation along party lines.
The National Counterterrorism Center, part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, fuses intelligence on domestic and foreign terrorism threats, coordinates analysis and shares information across agencies. Kent’s departure comes as the U.S. faces what officials describe as elevated terrorism risks tied to the Iran conflict, including potential retaliation from Tehran-backed groups.
Administration officials did not immediately comment on the resignation or name a successor. White House press secretary statements earlier in the day defended U.S. actions as necessary to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, rejecting claims of external pressure dictating policy.
Kent’s statement drew swift reactions across the political spectrum. Some Trump allies criticized the move as disloyalty, while critics of the war hailed it as principled dissent. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., posted on X that Kent’s departure was “good riddance,” citing Iran’s history of attacks on Americans. Democratic lawmakers, including those who opposed Kent’s nomination, pointed to his words as validation of concerns over the war’s justification.
The conflict’s origins remain disputed. Administration officials have described initial U.S. strikes as preemptive against an “imminent” Iranian nuclear breakout or threats to American forces, though intelligence assessments shared publicly have varied. Kent’s claim that no such imminent threat existed aligns with some congressional Democrats’ arguments that the war lacks constitutional authorization and clear strategic rationale.
The war has intensified in its second week, with reports of heavy airstrikes on Iranian military sites, ballistic missile exchanges and civilian casualties on both sides. A new Iranian supreme leader assumed power amid the chaos, facing immediate internal and external pressures. U.S. officials have reported no direct homeland attacks linked to the conflict so far, but warnings persist about heightened risks to Americans abroad and potential cyber or proxy operations.
Kent’s background as a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan added weight to his critique. In his confirmation hearing, he emphasized using intelligence to avoid “endless wars,” a stance some now see as ironic given his role in an administration pursuing aggressive action against Iran.
The resignation highlights strains within U.S. national security apparatus. Recent reports indicate firings and departures at the Justice Department and FBI have depleted counterterrorism resources, even as threats rise amid the war. About half of the DOJ’s counterterrorism prosecutors have left since the administration began, alongside significant turnover elsewhere.
Kent’s post on X garnered rapid attention, with thousands of reposts and comments. He did not elaborate on immediate plans but signaled intent to speak more publicly about his concerns.
The White House has maintained that military operations aim to eliminate threats from Iran’s nuclear program and its support for groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. President Trump has described the campaign as decisive action to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, contrasting with what he calls failed diplomacy under previous administrations.
Iranian officials have denounced U.S. involvement as aggression driven by Israeli interests, vowing retaliation while denying nuclear weapon pursuits. International observers warn of risks for broader regional escalation, including potential involvement from other powers.
Kent’s exit is the most prominent yet in what some analysts describe as growing unease among intelligence and defense professionals over the war’s scope and justification. Earlier departures have been quieter, tied to policy shifts or personnel changes rather than explicit protests.
As the administration navigates the fallout, questions linger about intelligence-policy alignment. Kent’s assertion challenges the narrative used to launch operations, potentially fueling congressional scrutiny when lawmakers return from recess.
The NCTC continues operations under acting leadership, with focus on monitoring any spillover terrorism threats. Officials urged vigilance but reported no immediate changes to threat levels.
Kent’s resignation underscores deep divisions over U.S. foreign policy in a volatile moment, as the nation grapples with the costs and consequences of another Middle East conflict.
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Business
U POWER LIMITED Achieves Significant Milestone in Revolutionizing Thailand’s Heavy-Duty Truck Battery-Swapping Industry
U POWER Limited will launch its Hong Kong taxi battery-swapping operations in Q2 2026. The project aims to enhance commercial vehicle electrification and improve operational efficiency in high-density urban markets.
Hong Kong Taxi Battery-Swapping Operations Expected to Launch Soon
U POWER Limited, a provider of specialized solutions for next-generation energy networks and intelligent transportation systems, announced that, following its securing an order for 1,000 battery-swapping heavy-duty trucks in Thailand and completing production of the first batch of vehicles, its Hong Kong taxi battery-swapping project is also expected to complete station deployment and commence operations in the second quarter of 2026. This development marks a new stage of full commercial rollout for U POWER LIMITED’s battery-swapping business for commercial vehicles across the Asian market.
Successful Validation of Commercial Use Cases Supports Scaled Growth of the Battery-Swapping Model
As one of the earliest technology companies in the industry to invest in the R&D and commercialization of battery-swapping solutions, U POWER LIMITED began promoting its UOTTA battery-swapping model for commercial vehicles in 2020 and achieved proven success in mainland China. After becoming the world’s first publicly listed battery-swapping technology company in 2023, U POWER accelerated its international expansion strategy, entering into partnerships with several major enterprises, including Thailand’s SUSCO (Susco Public Company Limited) and Whale Logistics Group.
In 2025, the company successfully launched a taxi battery-swapping business in Phuket, Thailand, and introduced its UNEX heavy-duty truck battery-swapping project to the Thai market, becoming the first company in overseas markets to achieve scaled commercial operations of battery swapping for commercial transport vehicles.
Further Advancing Hong Kong Taxi Battery-Swapping Project
U POWER LIMITED began laying out its strategy for the Hong Kong taxi battery-swapping market in 2024. In June 2025, the company completed Hong Kong’s first demonstration battery-swapping station capable of commercial operation. Since then, it has continued discussions with taxi industry partners regarding the broader rollout of battery-swapping taxis.
After identifying a vehicle model suitable for the Hong Kong market in October 2024, the company conducted ongoing road-testing and battery-swapping compatibility validation, while completing the relevant certifications in accordance with the Transport Department’s market access requirements for taxi vehicles. According to the company, this batch of battery-swapping taxis has now met the conditions for on-road operation. In parallel with the construction of battery-swapping stations, U POWER is targeting market launch in the second quarter of 2026.
Focused on Commercial Vehicle Battery Swapping and Optimistic About the Hong Kong Market
Li Jia, Founder and CEO of U POWER LIMITED, said that the company has become an undisputed leader in the ecological development and commercialization of battery-swapping solutions for commercial vehicles in overseas markets outside mainland China.
“Leveraging our AI-driven energy management system and standardized battery-swapping infrastructure, we are building an ecosystem for a wide range of commercial battery-swapping vehicles and advancing the electrification of commercial transportation,” Li said.
Li added that Hong Kong is one of the world’s most representative high-density urban transportation markets, where the taxi sector places a strong premium on operating efficiency. Compared with conventional charging, U POWER’s battery-swapping model is therefore better suited to the Hong Kong market.
Property owners do not need to install more land-intensive charging facilities or invest in costly grid upgrades. For taxi operators and fleet managers, there is no need to worry about battery performance degradation or daily battery maintenance, nor about range limitations affecting driver recruitment. In addition, the battery-swapping model can be integrated with a battery banking system, making day-to-day operating costs more economical.
For these reasons, the company believes battery swapping will gain broader acceptance within Hong Kong’s taxi industry, and it will continue working alongside industry stakeholders to support the electrification transition of Hong Kong taxis.
Source : U POWER LIMITED Makes Major Breakthrough in Thailand’s Heavy-Duty Truck Battery-Swapping Market
The information provided in this article was created by Cision PR Newswire, our news partner. The author's opinions and the content shared on this page are their own and may not necessarily represent the perspectives of Thailand Business News.
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Nations in the region have been keen to reach agreements as their economies are heavily reliant on Middle East energy.
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The U.S. housing market accelerated in March despite elevated mortgage rates reducing some of the affordability improvement the market had recently seen, according to a new report.
Zillow released its market report for March which found that newly pending home listings increased 4.6% from a year ago in March.
That increased the number of listings to the second-largest monthly total since the end of the pandemic boom in August 2022, which Zillow said was a positive sign for the market as the home shopping season begins in earnest.
The housing market’s uptick occurred despite mortgage rates increasing from 5.98% at the end of February to 6.38% in late March, according to data from Freddie Mac. Excluding taxes and insurance, the typical mortgage payment increased 1.5% from February, which undercut some of the affordability improvements the market had seen.
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The housing market is showing signs it’s picking up despite mortgage rates rising higher again. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Zillow found that the monthly mortgage payment on a typical U.S. home was $1,789 in March, given a 20% down payment, after excluding taxes and insurance. While that figure rose on a monthly basis, it was 4.4% lower than last year, according to the report.
There were 1.23 million homes listed for sale in March. Inventory rose 9.5% from February and active inventory was 4.2% higher than it was a year earlier.
The number of new for sale listings totaled 384,854 in March, an increase of 0.1% from a year ago and 35.6% in February.
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Mortgage rates have risen lately, curbing some of the affordability improvements seen earlier this year. (Getty Images)
Newly pending listings – a figure that measures listings which changed from for sale to pending status rather than closed sales – shows 4.6% growth from a year earlier, and a 29.8% increase over February.
A total of 300,398 homes were sold in March, according to a preliminary reading from the Zillow sales count nowcast. That’s up 3.7% from a year ago and 25.2% from February, though those figures will be revised mid-month.
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The number of homes sold in March was up on both an annual and monthly basis. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Buyers and sellers have been navigating uncertainty and market volatility in some form since the onset of the pandemic, and this month’s concern over energy prices is no different,” said Mischa Fisher, chief economist at Zillow. “However, we have persistent signals that the market has turned a corner.”
“Pent-up demand from three years of low sales volume and winter storms in January and February, along with the tailwind from lower mortgage rates earlier in the year, seem to have buoyed the market as home shopping season kicked off. In particular, the rapid acceleration of daily page views per listing we saw in March was a noteworthy improvement over the dormant market of recent years,” Fischer added.
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