Bessent’s relocation: From US to EU, is Iran bringing war to Western soil?

Detailed summary

A deliberate expansion of Iran’s campaign of retaliation beyond the Middle East could be taking place, said an expert.

The photograph was fairly grainy and devoid of much colour, but it was enough to make an impact. After the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an aerial view of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s mansion in Georgetown in Washington, DC, it was capable of being geolocated.

“Iranian threats” against Bessent increased following the WSJ story in January 2025, which led to him being relocated to a United States military base for his safety, an anonymous source close to the matter told the Reuters news agency.

The New York Times first reported the move on Tuesday, citing three sources.

Bessent’s relocation is one of many similar moves made by US officials in recent years. The United Kingdom is also facing security threats it says are tied to Iran.

“I think we are witnessing a deliberate expansion of Iran’s campaign of retaliation beyond the Middle East,” Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera.

Bessent has relocated from his Washington, DC mansion to a US military base following alleged Iranian threats to his life.

“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 to Reuters.

Of the WSJ report, an anonymous source told Reuters: “The news media has an obligation to act responsibly amid growing threats against public officials.”

Bessent joins at least six other US officials who have left their Washington-area residences for a military base or other protected housing last year, including Stephen Miller, now the White House chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, then the attorney general, the New York Times reported.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Al Jazeera. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.