US Treasury Secretary moved to military base after Iranian threats: NYT
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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved from his Washington-area home to a military base following threats against his life attributed to Iran, according to a New York Times report.
The newspaper cited three people with knowledge of the matter. Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to relocate to more secure military housing amid heightened security concerns.
The severity of the specific threats directed at him was not immediately clear, the Times reported.
The relocation occurs against a backdrop of increased Iranian efforts to target US personnel.
A senior intelligence official in the Trump administration warned in a memo seen by Reuters late last month that lethal plots by Tehran against American citizens had reached “advanced stages.”
US officials have assessed that Iran’s capacity to conduct large-scale attacks inside the United States or other overseas locations remains limited.
Bessent has been a central figure in Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Tehran.
Since August, he has led efforts under what has been called Operation Economic Outcast, involving tougher sanctions, restrictions on trade routes, and measures aimed at isolating Iran financially during the US-‘Israeli’ military campaign against Iran that began on February 28.
That conflict has involved extensive strikes and resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
A Treasury Department spokesperson said Bessent “will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats” and remains committed to the economic pressure campaign.
Iran has previously denied plotting to attack officials or individuals on US soil.
The New York Times report noted that US officials view the threats against Bessent and other Americans as serious enough in some cases to prompt protective measures, even as broader Iranian operational reach is judged constrained.
The development underscores ongoing security challenges for senior officials involved in Iran-related policy.
Several other Trump administration figures have earlier relocated to military facilities in or near the capital for protection against various threats.
Bessent continues to oversee the financial isolation strategy aimed at pressuring the Iranian government.
