US Treasury chief Bessent moved from home to military base amid Iranian threats

Résumé détaillé

US Treasury chief Scott Bessent moved to military base after Iranian threats, as US officials warn of advanced plotting. Read more at straitstimes.com.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaving the White House in Washington on Oct 29.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently moved out of his home and onto a military base after Iranian threats against his life, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

US officials concluded in recent weeks that Iranian plotting against current and former US officials had reached a more advanced stage, based in part on intelligence about threats to Bessent, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive information.

Since August, Bessent has led an economic pressure campaign meant to isolate Iran financially through tougher sanctions and restrictions on trade routes.

That role has made him one of the administration officials that Iran most wants to harm, the people said.

The severity of the threats to him is unclear. Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the United States and other territories overseas is limited, US officials have noted.

But there have been specific, targeted threats made by Iran against individuals that US officials have deemed serious, such as a murder-for-hire plot against US President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign.

In a statement, a Treasury Department spokesperson said Bessent “will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats”, adding that he remains committed to executing the campaign to squeeze Iran’s economy.

Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to leave a Washington-area home for a military base or other protected housing.

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