US Treasury chief Bessent moved to military base after Iranian threats, NYT reports

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has transferred his residence to a military base following reported threats to his safety allegedly linked to Iran, according to The New York Times on Tuesday. The exact nature and extent of these threats remain unspecified. However, increased anxieties within the administration over potential Iranian plots targeting American citizens and personnel have led to this decision.

Despite growing concerns, US officials have stated that Iran's ability to carry out large-scale attacks both domestically and internationally is limited. Tehran has repeatedly denied any involvement in plotting attacks against US individuals on American soil.

Scott Bessent has been a key figure in Washington's economic strategy aimed at pressuring Iran. Through financial sanctions and punitive measures, the Treasury Department, under Bessent's leadership, has aimed to restrict Iran's oil revenues, financial networks, and capital channels. This strategy has intensified during the US-Israeli conflict that began on February 28.

The US has worked to weaken Iran's ability to generate revenue and fund its military operations through sanctions on individuals, corporations, maritime networks, and oil trade participants. This financial pressure has been coupled with a military offensive involving American and Israeli forces conducting airstrikes on strategic locations and Iranian military installations, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions across the region.

The conflict has also claimed multiple high-ranking Iranian figures. Meanwhile, Israeli military campaigns in Lebanon have added to the human toll in the region. As tensions between the two capitals escalate, security concerns over potential reprisals targeting American officials continue to be a major priority.