Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lashed out at Iran’s leadership Friday, saying “F the Iranian leadership” after death threats prompted him to leave his $12.5 million Georgetown home and relocate to a military base.
“I’m not going to be cowed by the death threats they have made against me,” Bessent said during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” confirming that the Secret Service had directed him to move.
“The other cabinet members won’t be cowed either,” he added.
Bessent’s relocation was first reported Wednesday, following warnings from US officials about threats to his life. As Treasury secretary, he has emerged as a key figure in President Trump’s campaign to cripple Tehran financially through broad sanctions.
An unclassified memo issued by a senior intelligence officer last month warned that Iranian plots targeting US personnel and American citizens had reached an advanced stage.
The precise nature and severity of the threats against Bessent were not immediately known. Iran has previously denied planning attacks against US officials or individuals on American soil.
Bessent said the threats indicated that President Trump’s economic pressure campaign was pushing Tehran into a difficult position.
“What we’re doing is working,” he said, characterizing Iran as “a dangerous animal backed into a corner.”
“Why am I going to be afraid when our brave military personnel are in the Gulf, President Trump constantly receives death threats?” he added.
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Security concerns surrounding the Treasury secretary reportedly grew after The Wall Street Journal published an aerial photograph of his Georgetown residence in January 2025, following his $12.5 million purchase of the property.
During Friday’s interview, Bessent criticized the newspaper, saying his team had asked its editor not to publish the image because it could reveal the precise location of his home.
He described the decision as “extremely irresponsible and dangerous,” adding that “things like this must stop.”
A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that the photograph made it possible to geolocate the property, further intensifying concerns about Bessent’s safety.
Since August, Bessent has overseen Trump’s economic pressure campaign against Iran, known as Operation Economic Outcast.
The campaign has targeted financial institutions and other companies accused of facilitating Iranian transactions. A US naval blockade of Iranian ports has increased the pressure on Tehran.
The administration is seeking to compel Iran to stop attacks on shipping and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
A Treasury Department spokesperson previously told The Post that Bessent would not be deterred by threats from the Iranian regime and remained committed to the campaign. The department has said the effort was helping drive Iran’s economy into collapse.
Even as warnings have escalated, US officials have acknowledged that Iran’s ability to launch large-scale attacks inside the United States and other overseas territories remains limited.
Bessent, however, made clear that he had no intention of retreating.
