At a Glance

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he will not be intimidated by reported Iranian threats against his life.

• He confirmed moving from his Washington residence to a military base, following Secret Service instructions.

• Bessent linked the security concerns partly to the publication of an aerial photograph of his home.

• Iran has previously denied plotting attacks against US officials or people on American soil.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday he would not be intimidated by reported Iranian threats against his life, after relocating from his Washington residence to a US military base on the advice of the Secret Service.

Key Statements and Focus Areas

Bessent Responds to Threats

Speaking to CNBC, Bessent said he would not be deterred by threats against him.

“Why am I going to be afraid when our, the brave military personnel in the Gulf, President Trump, constantly receive death threats?”

He described Iran as “a dangerous cornered animal” and said he had followed Secret Service instructions to relocate.

Security Concerns

Bessent said the publication of an aerial photograph of his Georgetown residence by The Wall Street Journal in January 2025 contributed to security concerns.

He called the publication “highly irresponsible and dangerous.”

US Pressure Campaign Against Iran

Bessent has led the Trump administration's economic pressure campaign against Tehran, known as Operation Economic Outcast, since August.

The campaign includes sanctions targeting financial institutions and services accused of facilitating transactions with Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would not be intimidated by reported Iranian threats against his life, speaking publicly about his security arrangements in an interview with CNBC on Friday.

Bessent confirmed that he had moved from his Washington residence to a US military base, saying the decision followed instructions from the Secret Service.

He described Iran as “a dangerous cornered animal” and questioned why he should be afraid of threats when US military personnel in the Gulf and President Donald Trump also face threats.

Bessent also pointed to a Wall Street Journal article published in January 2025 that included an aerial photograph of his Georgetown residence, saying it raised security concerns by making the property identifiable.

His relocation was first reported earlier this week by The New York Times. Reuters subsequently reported that the severity of the threats against Bessent had not been publicly established.

A senior Trump administration intelligence official warned in a memo reviewed by Reuters late last month that Iranian plots targeting US personnel and American citizens had reached an advanced stage.

Iran has previously denied plotting attacks against US officials or people on American soil.

Bessent has been a leading figure in Washington's economic pressure campaign against Tehran. Since August, Operation Economic Outcast has sought to pressure Iran to stop attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with sanctions targeting financial institutions and other services linked to Iranian transactions.

FYI

Bessent's security concerns come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and an expanded US economic pressure campaign against Iran. His relocation highlights the security precautions facing senior US officials, while his public remarks signal that the administration intends to maintain its pressure on Tehran despite reported threats.

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