Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lashed out at Iran’s leadership Friday, saying “F the Iranian leadership” after death threats prompted him to leave his $12.5 million Georgetown home and move to a military base.
“I’m not going to be cowed by the death threats they have made against me,” Bessent said during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” confirming that the Secret Service had directed him to relocate.
“The other cabinet members won’t be cowed either,” he added.
Bessent’s move was first reported Wednesday, after US officials expressed concern about threats from Iran against his life. The Treasury secretary has emerged as a key figure in President Trump’s campaign to weaken Tehran financially through sweeping economic sanctions.
An intelligence official warned in an unclassified memo last month that Iranian plots against US personnel and American citizens had reached an advanced stage.
The precise nature of the threats against Bessent was not immediately known. Iran has previously denied planning attacks against US officials or individuals on American soil.
Bessent said the threats underscored the impact of President Trump’s economic pressure campaign, arguing that it was pushing Tehran into a more vulnerable position.
“What we’re doing is working,” he said, describing Iran as “a dangerous animal backed into a corner.”
“Why am I going to be afraid when our brave military personnel are in the Gulf, President Trump constantly receives death threats?” Bessent said.
Security concerns surrounding the Treasury secretary reportedly grew after The Wall Street Journal published an aerial image of his Georgetown residence in January 2025, following his $12.5 million purchase of the property.
During Friday’s interview, Bessent criticized the newspaper and said his team had asked its editor not to publish the image because it could reveal the precise location of his home.
He described the decision as “extremely irresponsible and dangerous,” adding that “things like this must stop.”
A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that the photograph made it possible to geolocate the property, adding to the security concerns surrounding Bessent.
Since August, Bessent has led Trump’s economic campaign against Iran, known as Operation Economic Outcast.
The initiative has targeted financial institutions and other companies accused of helping facilitate Iranian transactions. A US naval blockade of Iranian ports has further increased pressure on Tehran.
The administration is seeking to compel Iran to halt attacks on shipping and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
A Treasury Department spokesperson previously told The Post that Bessent would not be deterred by threats from Iran’s regime and remained committed to the campaign, which the department said was contributing to the collapse of Iran’s economy.
Even as warnings have intensified, US officials have acknowledged that Iran’s capacity to launch large-scale attacks inside the United States and other overseas territories remains limited.
Bessent, for his part, made clear that he had no intention of backing down.