US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday confirmed that he had moved from his Washington-area residence to a military base following death threats allegedly linked to Iran, declaring that he would not be intimidated by Tehran's leadership.
Speaking to CNBC, Bessent said he had followed the advice of the US Secret Service in relocating to a more secure location amid heightened concerns about threats against senior American officials.
"F the Iranian leadership. I'm not going to be cowered that they have initiated death threats against me," Bessent said.
The Treasury Secretary maintained that the threats would not alter his approach towards Iran or deter the Trump administration from continuing its economic pressure campaign.
He argued that the threats indicated that Washington's sanctions strategy, known as Operation Economic Outcast, was having an impact on Tehran.
"And it means what we are doing with Operation Economic Outcast is working," he said.
๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐
Bessent said threats had also been directed at other members of President Donald Trump's administration.
He described Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as increasingly desperate under mounting economic pressure, comparing it to a dangerous, cornered animal.
The Treasury Secretary questioned why he should be intimidated when American military personnel stationed in the Gulf and Trump himself continued to face security threats.
The exact nature and severity of the threats against Bessent have not been publicly disclosed.
Iran has previously denied allegations that it was plotting attacks against American officials or individuals on US soil.
๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป
Bessent has been leading Operation Economic Outcast since August, overseeing sanctions and financial restrictions aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran.
The campaign seeks to disrupt Iran's international financial networks and compel it to end attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategically important waterway has remained largely closed since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28.
Washington's economic measures have included sanctions against financial institutions and service providers accused of facilitating transactions involving Iran.
The campaign has operated alongside a US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
A Treasury Department spokesperson earlier said Bessent remained committed to implementing the sanctions programme despite the reported threats.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ณ๐
Bessent also criticised The Wall Street Journal for publishing an aerial photograph of his Washington-area residence, which he said had exposed its location and increased security risks.
According to earlier reports, concerns surrounding his safety had intensified after the photograph made it possible to identify the property.
A senior Trump administration intelligence official had warned last month that alleged Iranian plots targeting US personnel and American citizens had reached an advanced stage.
Bessent's relocation comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the United States maintaining economic and military pressure on Iran.
Despite the security concerns, the Treasury Secretary insisted that neither he nor other senior administration officials would abandon their responsibilities in response to threats.