F the Iranian leadership: Scott Bessent moves to military base after death threats

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed that he moved out of his home and into a military base after receiving death threats from Iran, but the senior Trump administration official says he has no intention of being intimidated. Speaking to CNBC, Bessent delivered a blunt message to Iran's leadership as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate."F the Iranian leadership. I'm not going to be cowered that they have initiated death threats against me," Bessent said.The Treasury secretary said the threats would not change his approach or that of other senior officials. Instead, he argued that the pressure campaign against Iran was a sign that the US strategy was beginning to have an effect."And it means what we are doing with Operation Economic Outcast is working," he said. Bessent said he had followed Secret Service instructions and moved from his home to a military base for security reasons. The Treasury Department has not disclosed the specific nature of the threats against him. Facing the threats, Bessent sought to frame them as part of a wider confrontation involving the Trump administration, the US military and Iran."Why am I going to be afraid when our brave military personnel in the Gulf, President Trump, constantly receives death threats?" he said. His comments came as Washington continues its economic pressure campaign against Tehran and maintains a blockade aimed at squeezing Iran's economy.'DANGEROUS CORNERED ANIMAL' Bessent was particularly blunt when describing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, which he accused of responding aggressively as pressure builds."And the IRGC, they're like a dangerous cornered animal," he said. Iranian threats have reportedly prompted the US to move military aircraft as well.Just days ago, a US official told NBC News that several American military aircraft were relocated from a US base in the United Kingdom amid concerns over Iranian threats.That incident followed a security episode near the same base. Last month, two men were charged in Britain over allegations that they were attempting to assist Iran. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said at the time that there were strong indications of Iranian involvement.BESSENT ALSO BLAMES THE WALL STREET JOURNALBessent also directed part of his anger at the media, accusing The Wall Street Journal of putting him at greater risk by publishing a photograph of his home. He said the newspaper had published a photograph of the property when he bought it and that the image contained geolocation information."One of the reasons I've had to move is because the Wall Street Journal printed a photo of my house the day I bought it," Bessent said. "It has geolocate on it and in a highly irresponsible way."According to Bessent, the newspaper was asked not to publish the location. "The editor, we pleaded with her not to print the location of my house, but she did anyway. Highly irresponsible and dangerous and things like that have to stop too," he said.A Treasury Department spokesperson told NBC News said Bessent "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." The statement offered no details about who issued the threats, when they were made or what specific measures prompted Bessent to leave his residence.But the decision to relocate a sitting US Cabinet secretary to a military installation underlines the seriousness of the security concerns surrounding senior officials.TRUMP ALSO FACED THREAT CONCERNSBessent is not the only senior US official whose security has been affected by the confrontation with Iran. President Donald Trump has previously admitted concerns over Iranian threats against him.A few months ago, Trump took a secret flight out of Turkey amid security concerns linked to the war with Iran. When asked whether he was aware of credible threats against him from Tehran, Trump said there was "a threat all the time" and that he was "No. 1 on their list."- Ends