U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent relocated to military base amid safety concerns
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was moved to a military installation after media reports revealed his home address, as he leads a sanctions campaign targeting Iran.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was relocated to a military base following concerns for his personal safety, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The move follows media reports that disclosed Bessent's home address, a relocation previously reported by The New York Times.
Bessent has been overseeing a sanctions effort aimed at cutting Iran's remaining financial connections worldwide. Recent U.S. intelligence indicated an increase in Iranian activity targeting American personnel in the Middle East, prompting the State Department to reduce staff at four regional embassies last month.
President Donald Trump said this week that the more than eight-month-old conflict with Iran is "militarily effectively over," while the administration continues to apply economic pressure to influence Tehran's nuclear policy. In August, the Treasury Department announced an "economic D-Day" against Iran, expanding sanctions and diplomatic outreach.
U.S. officials have met with officials from Iran's trading partners during the UN General Assembly, urging them to end financial ties with Tehran or face U.S. retaliation. The United Arab Emirates and Turkey have reportedly restricted a major Iranian commercial bank from processing transactions, and several Iranian airlines have lost access to regional routes such as Istanbul-Muscat.
Other senior officials in the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, also reside on military installations.