Iran threat forces US Treasury chief to relocate to military base

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved from his residence in the Washington area to a military base for his safety, amid escalating threats linked to Iran, according to an official source. This marks the third instance of a senior cabinet official relocating to military housing, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Bessent has been instrumental in spearheading a US campaign to weaken Iran's economy through sanctions since the beginning of the Middle East conflict. Despite Iran's threats, Treasury spokespersons affirm that Bessent remains committed to implementing measures that are crippling Iran's economy. National intelligence chief Jay Clayton cautioned last month that Tehran has significantly intensified its attempts to target Americans in the Middle East and beyond.

The decision for Bessent's relocation ensued after officials identified his Washington home could be pinpointed through a published image. The increase in security concerns prompted the Treasury chief to seek protection in a military base. The news media is urged to maintain responsible reporting amid growing threats against public officials.

Washington previously ordered non-essential US embassy staff and their families to depart Saudi Arabia due to rising attacks from Houthi fighters backed by Tehran. Furthermore, the US military has removed some aircraft from two British bases in recent weeks following reported Iranian threats. Diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing war seem to be gaining momentum, with Rubio asserting on Tuesday that the US economic pressure on Iran renders the need for further attacks redundant.