Iran threats force US Treasury chief Scott Bessent onto military base

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently moved out of his home and onto a military base after threats against his life from Iran, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move places one of the leading figures in Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Tehran under heightened protection. The exact severity of the threats against Bessent remains unclear. The Times reported that U.S. officials believe Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the United States or elsewhere abroad is limited, but that specific plots targeting American officials have nevertheless raised serious concern.

A Treasury Department spokesperson did not dispute the report and said Bessent “will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats,” adding that he remained committed to the administration’s campaign of economic pressure on Tehran. Bessent has become one of the most prominent faces of Washington’s effort to isolate Iran financially, including through tighter sanctions and restrictions on its trade routes. According to the Times, intelligence concerning threats against him was among the information that led U.S. officials to conclude that Iranian plots targeting current and former American officials had reached a more advanced stage.

Iran has targeted senior U.S. officials before. Since the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, American authorities have repeatedly warned of Iranian plots against U.S. figures, including President Donald Trump. Iran has denied plotting attacks against officials and other individuals on U.S. soil. The report comes as Western intelligence assessments suggest Iran is also rebuilding part of its ballistic missile arsenal after months of U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Tehran is producing about 50 ballistic missiles a month, roughly half its prewar rate. Iran is believed to retain at least 1,700 ballistic missiles, according to a Western official familiar with intelligence assessments cited by Bloomberg. The report said Tehran may also still possess thousands of Shahed-type attack drones, although the precise size of its missile and drone stockpiles remains uncertain. Western intelligence officials also assess that Russia is assisting Iran with offensive weapons, although the extent and volume of that support remain unclear.

Another unresolved issue following Operation Lion’s Roar is the fate of Iran’s nuclear program. The campaign lasted considerably longer than initially expected, while much of the military activity ultimately focused on military infrastructure, energy facilities and targets linked to the Iranian regime rather than exclusively on nuclear sites. Israeli assessments, alongside those of other Western intelligence services, hold that the location of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is known.

The material is estimated at about 450 kilograms, and intelligence agencies continue to monitor it. Israeli officials believe the enriched uranium will eventually have to be addressed, either through an agreement or by other means. As long as the material remains in Iranian hands, Israel does not consider the nuclear issue removed from its security agenda.