US Treasury Secretary Bessent moves to military base over reported Iranian threats

The move to a military base

US media reported on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved from his private residence to a military base. The New York Times and Fox News both cited people familiar with the matter. Fox News said US intelligence services had concluded that the alleged Iranian threats had reached an advanced stage, citing an official who asked not to be named. According to the reports, that assessment is what prompted the relocation.

How serious the threat is

The New York Times said it was unclear how grave the threats against Bessent were. US officials told the paper that Iran has only a limited capacity to carry out large-scale attacks in the United States and its overseas territories. Threats against individuals are nonetheless treated as serious, and Spiegel reported that Iran allegedly planned a contract killing against Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign. Iran has denied plotting attacks on US officials and other people on American soil, and Tehran has previously rejected plans for attacks on US territory.

Treasury response and Bessent's role

The Treasury Department confirmed the move to both outlets. It said Bessent would not be intimidated by threats from the Iranian regime and remains determined to pursue the campaign aimed at squeezing Iran's economy. Bessent has led Washington's economic pressure on Tehran, imposing sanctions on banks, individuals, companies and airlines. The department did not immediately respond to an initial request for comment. The economic pressure forms part of the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began on 28 February 2026.

Other officials who relocated

According to the New York Times, Bessent is the most recent senior official in the Trump administration to move to a military base or another protected residence. White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and former attorney general Pam Bondi relocated earlier, and reports say at least six people did so in 2025. Spiegel reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly live at heavily guarded bases in or around Washington. Bondi's case drew reports earlier in 2026 of alleged threats from drug cartels.

The wider war

The US-Israeli war against Iran has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, according to Ziare reporting, which also cites Israeli attacks on Lebanon during the conflict. US and Israeli strikes killed senior Iranian officials, including former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Against that background, US officials are assessing threats against members of the administration who have led the pressure campaign on Tehran.