US Treasury chief Scott Bessent reportedly moves to military base after Iranian threats

The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has relocated from his Washington-area residence to a military base following an Iranian threat against his life, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday.

Bessent has led a U.S. effort to undermine Iran’s economy since the start of the Middle East conflict, declaring an “economic asphyxiation” of the Islamic Republic through extensive sanctions.

National intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned last month that Tehran has substantially increased its efforts to target Americans, including current and former U.S. officials such as Bessent.

These actions include intensifying coverts against key U.S. personnel, with three sources familiar with the matter confirming the escalation.

Anonymous sources indicate that Iranian plotting against U.S. officials has reached a more advanced stage, though the specifics of the threats against Bessent were uncertain.

Washington ordered non-essential U.S. embassy staff and their families to depart Saudi Arabia last month amid heightened attacks by Houthi forces backed by Iran.

The U.S. military has also removed some aircraft from two British bases in recent weeks due to reported Iranian threats.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war are gathering pace, with US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, saying on Tuesday that the US squeezing of Iran’s economy made further attacks unnecessary.

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