US Treasury chief moved to military base over Iranian threats

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has recently moved ‌from his Washington, DC, residence to a US military base after Iranian threats against his life, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

The New York Times first reported the move. The Times said the severity of the ​threats was not immediately clear.   

A senior intelligence official in the Trump administration warned in a memo ​seen by Reuters late last month that Iranian plots against US personnel and ⁠American citizens had reached an advanced stage.     

Bessent has led the US sanctions and economic pressure campaign against ​Iran, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, since August to try to push Tehran to end attacks on shipping ​and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The crucial waterway has been largely closed since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. 

The economic pressure campaign, which coincides with a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, has included sanctions on Middle ​Eastern bank branches and other financial services firms facilitating transactions with Iran.

"The secretary will not be ​deterred by the Iranian regime's threats and remains committed to executing Operation Economic Outcast and maintaining the blockade, which ‌together are ⁠collapsing Iran's economy," a US Treasury spokesperson said in an emailed statement.