President Donald Trump waged war on Iran on Feb. 28 because he said the country's nuclear potential posed an imminent threat to the American people.

But on March 17, a top Republican intelligence official resigned, countering this narrative completely, and claimed Trump had been deceived by a misinformation campaign.

Joe Kent quit as head of the National Counterterrorism Center due to his opposition to the Iran war and Trump's evaluation of Iran as an immediate threat.

In a social media post that shared his resignation letter, Kent wrote, “After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. 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 American lobby."

Given his credibility, I am concerned. Kent's letter raises important questions for me about whether Iran did pose an imminent threat to the United States and if Trump has been misinformed or deceived into war with Iran. If either or both of those prove to be true, the Trump administration will lose a lot of trust with the American people, but especially conservatives.

Joe Kent gave us a credible source for questioning Trump on Iran

Kent said in his letter that he believes "high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign" that deceived Trump into thinking Iran posed an imminent threat to Americans and "there was a clear path to swift victory." He encouraged the president to "reverse course and chart a new path for our nation."

Kent is no wallflower or Republican squish. He has served our country with honor and distinction. Before this position, he was a top aide to National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.

He was in the Army for 20 years, including the special forces, and served 11 combat tours, then retired and became a CIA officer. In 2019, his first wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing while she was serving in Syria.

I'm invested in quelling threats to America and in how Trump acts under the banner of conservatism. But I think that Kent's resignation provides new information to examine. He could be wrong, and his views might be controversial, but his access to intelligence still matters. His reasons for resigning are sobering and cause for reflection and more questions.

Did Iran pose an imminent threat to the US?

Iran's potential for having nuclear capabilities is strong − everyone knows that. The Iranian regime was oppressive, dictatorial and unsafe, especially for women and children. Few would argue otherwise. It's not a question of whether Iran is a threat but what kind and to what degree.

As an everyday citizen, I don’t presume, or demand, that I should have access to every piece of classified intelligence our military holds. In truth, I wouldn’t even want that level of visibility; I doubt I’d sleep well knowing it all. There is, and always has been, a significant degree of trust that Americans place in our government, intelligence agencies and military to gather information and use it responsibly.

I don’t take issue with that trust, but if Kent, who had access to intelligence and counterintelligence, believes Iran did not pose an imminent threat, Americans are right to ask − or continue asking − on what exact basis did this war really begin?

We need to know more about Kent's assertion that Trump has been deceived by a misinformation campaign led by high-ranking Israeli officials and the American media.

Perhaps Kent's grievances are coming from a more personal place. But we are right to press the White House for answers to legitimate claims.

What is Trump's plan to end the war?

Kent is correct that Trump campaigned on not fighting never-ending wars. His resignation letter suggests that if the president began the Iran war because he was fooled, he might not end it as quickly as he promised, either. We are already seeing this, too.

Already, at least 13 U.S. soldiers have died in this conflict and more than 200 U.S. troops have been wounded. Trump has deployed about 2,500 Marines to Iran. This makes it seem like the conflict is escalating, not wrapping up.

In an interview with Fox News on March 13, Trump didn't give a timeline for the Iran war, saying that the fighting would end "when I feel it in my bones."

I'm sorry, Mr. President, but is this a war running on vibes? Please be serious.

Again, I’m not suggesting we hand over our playbook to Iran, or even make it fully public to Americans. But taxpayers are funding this extraordinarily expensive conflict − $16.5 billion as of March 13 − and now a senior Republican intelligence official, who was a combat veteran and has seen war firsthand and opposes entering another one, is pushing back on the claims that justified starting the war.

Kent's right to encourage Trump to remember his commitment to keeping the United States out of prolonged wars. Americans, left and right, should ask: How long will this war go on? What is the plan? Is there a plan?

Presumably, Kent was asking all these questions, too, and now he has quit out of exasperation. I hope Trump heeds the advice of this patriot, remains focused and ends the war as quickly as he began it. I want victory. I want to quell direct threats to Americans. But I don't want us to engage in or prolong a war due to pressure from another country, media-based misinformation, or vibes.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.

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