Bessent Moved to Military Base Over Security Concerns

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been moved to a military base in response to Iranian assassination threats this week, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News.

Iran has upped its efforts to target senior U.S. officials overseas. White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also relocated to military or protected housing in recent weeks.

The senior official said threats against Bessent had reached "more than an advanced stage." The official declined to say when Bessent was relocated.

Bessent has played an important role in the economic battle against Iran, as he launched "Operation Economic Outcast" this summer. This is an effort to isolate Iran's economy from the rest of the world.

Bessent said sanctions would bring about the "asphyxiation" of Iran's economy.

The Treasury Department confirmed Bessent's departure in a statement to Fox News Tuesday. The department added the secretary refuses to "be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats."

The New York Times first reported Bessent's relocation. The media outlet cited three anonymous sources.

The move comes as President Donald Trump continues to seek to end the war through diplomatic means, rather than a return to full-scale war.

Rubio downplayed the possibility of re-escalating the conflict Tuesday.

"We don't need to conduct military strikes if we're achieving the same objective through economic means and economic pressure," Rubio said.