US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved from his Washington residence to a US military base following Iranian threats against his life, Reuters and The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move took place recently.
The Times, citing three people, reported that US officials believe Iranian plots against American officials have reached an advanced stage. The severity of the threats against Bessent was not immediately clear, and US officials have noted that Iran’s capacity to carry out large-scale attacks in the United States and overseas is limited. Iran has previously denied plotting attacks on officials or people on US soil.
Bessent has led the US sanctions and economic pressure campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, since August. The campaign, which coincides with a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, has included sanctions on Middle Eastern bank branches and other financial firms that facilitate transactions with Iran. It targets the financial resources of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and aims to pressure Tehran into ending attacks on shipping and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
A source cited by Reuters said security concerns escalated after the Wall Street Journal published an aerial photograph that allowed Bessent’s Georgetown home to be geolocated. The source said the news media “has an obligation to act responsibly amid growing threats against public officials.”
A Treasury spokesperson said the secretary “will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats” and remains committed to the campaign and the blockade, which the spokesperson said are collapsing Iran’s economy.
Bessent is at least the third Trump Cabinet member reported to be living in military housing, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who live at Fort McNair, according to Newsweek. Mediaite counted at least six administration officials in military housing over security concerns. US and Israeli attacks during the war have killed senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.