US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has left his residence and moved to a military base following threats from Iran against his life, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The relocation was first reported by The New York Times.
Late last month, a senior Trump administration intelligence official warned in a memo reviewed by Reuters that Iranian plots targeting US personnel and American citizens had advanced significantly.
Since August, Bessent has overseen the US sanctions and financial pressure campaign against Iran, known as Operation Economic Outcast. The effort aims to force Tehran to halt attacks on commercial shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global trade route that has remained largely closed since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.
The campaign, carried out alongside a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, has targeted branches of Middle Eastern banks and other financial-services companies accused of helping process transactions linked to Iran.
“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,” a US Treasury spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The Times said the precise nature and seriousness of the threats against Bessent were not immediately known.
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A person familiar with the matter said concern over Bessent’s security intensified after The Wall Street Journal published an aerial image of the Georgetown mansion he purchased for $12.5 million shortly after being confirmed as Treasury secretary in January 2025.
The image made it possible to identify the location of Bessent’s home, prompting officials to move him to a military base for protection, the source said. “The news media has an obligation to act responsibly amid growing threats against public officials,” the source added.
Iran has previously rejected allegations that it was planning attacks against officials or other individuals on US soil.
According to The New York Times, US officials have assessed that Iran’s capacity to carry out major attacks in the United States and other locations abroad remains limited.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran, along with Israeli attacks in Lebanon during the conflict, have killed thousands of people and forced millions from their homes.
The US and Israel have also killed senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died late in the conflict.
