Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved out of his home and onto a military base after Iranian threats against his life, according to two people familiar with the matter. The New York Times first reported the relocation.
A senior intelligence official in the Trump administration warned in a memo seen by Reuters late last month that Iranian plots against US personnel and American citizens had reached an advanced stage.
Bessent has run the US sanctions and economic pressure campaign against Iran, called Operation Economic Outcast, since August. The effort is aimed at forcing Tehran to end attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28. The campaign runs alongside a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and has included sanctions on Middle Eastern bank branches and other financial firms handling Iranian transactions.
A Treasury spokesperson said Bessent will not back down.
“The secretary will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats and remains committed to executing Operation Economic Outcast and maintaining the blockade, which together are collapsing Iran’s economy,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The Times reported that the severity of the threats against Bessent was not immediately clear.
A source familiar with the matter said security concerns around Bessent intensified after the Wall Street Journal published an aerial photo of the Georgetown mansion Bessent bought for $12.5 million shortly after his confirmation as Treasury secretary in January 2025. The image allowed his home to be geolocated, prompting his move to a military base for safety. The source added: “The news media has an obligation to act responsibly amid growing threats against public officials.”
Iran has previously denied plotting attacks against officials or people on US soil. The New York Times reported that US officials have noted Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks inside the US or other territories overseas remains limited.
US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon during the war have killed thousands and displaced millions. American and Israeli strikes have also killed top Iranian officials, including late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
