US Treasury Secretary moved to military base for fear of Iran-linked threats

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reportedly been relocated from his home in Washington DC to a military base following threats to his life allegedly linked to Iran.

The move came after a photograph of Bessent’s residence in Georgetown was published by the Wall Street Journal, raising concerns that his home location could be identified, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

According to CBS, security concerns increased after the newspaper published an article featuring an online photograph that made it possible to establish the location of the secretary’s home.

“After the Wall Street Journal published an article featuring an online photo that allowed the location of the secretary’s Georgetown home to be geo-located, security concerns began to increase,” a source told the medium.

The threats come as Bessent plays a key role in the US government’s efforts to weaken Iran’s economy through sanctions and broader economic restrictions.

Although the specific nature of the threats remains unclear, US intelligence officials have warned that Iran has “substantially increased” efforts to target Americans, including serving government officials.

A spokesperson for the Treasury Department said Bessent “will not be deterred” by the threats and “remains committed” to the US campaign to put pressure on Iran’s economy.

The BBC said it had contacted the White House for further comments.

In September, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned about increased Iranian efforts to target Americans.

The New York Times also reported that the alleged targeting efforts cover both current and former US officials, with one source describing the threat as having “reached a more advanced stage”.

Other officials reportedly considered potential targets include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.

The security arrangements for Bolton and Milley were withdrawn by the Trump administration shortly after President Donald Trump returned to office last year.

Bessent is among several senior US officials living on military bases for security reasons. White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was moved to a military base in late 2025, before the conflict with Iran began.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also live on military bases. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard had similar arrangements.

The security concerns come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following US and Israeli air strikes on Iran in February.

The attacks killed Iran’s leader and triggered retaliatory strikes by Tehran against US allies in the region, alongside the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies normally pass.