Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent moves to military base after Iranian threats against his life — NYT

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has relocated to a military base following threats to his life from Iran, according to The New York Times on November 10. This decision was based on intelligence suggesting that Iranian plotting against American officials had escalated, as reported by three sources familiar with the matter. Bessent has been spearheading an economic pressure campaign against Iran since August, utilizing tougher sanctions and trade restrictions to isolate the country financially.

His position has made him a target for Iran, according to the sources. The severity of the threats faced by Bessent remains uncertain; however, U.S. officials acknowledge that Iran's capability to execute large-scale attacks in the United States is limited. In the past, Iran has made specific, targeted threats against individuals, including a plot for murder during the 2024 presidential campaign, as reported by The New York Times.

A spokesperson for the Treasury Department affirmed that Bessent will not be intimidated by Iran's threats and remains committed to implementing the campaign to tighten Iran's economy. The Treasury Department plans to introduce weekly secondary sanctions to intensify economic pressure on Iran, which Bessent highlighted in an interview.

He also mentioned that the next step could involve disconnecting an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.