Iran has been saddled with an unprecedented accusation, while the U.S. Treasury Secretary appears to have overplayed his role. On November 13, speaking to CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: “Faced with death threats from Iran, I will not back down—but I have followed Secret Service directives to relocate from my residence in Washington, D.C., to a military installation in the United States. When our brave service members stationed in the Persian Gulf and President Trump himself are receiving repeated death threats, what reason would I have to fear?”
Bessent’s situation is indeed theatrical: a finance official relocated to a military base and publicly declaring resolve on television. Yet upon closer examination, this appears less like evidence of an imminent Iranian operation within the U.S. and more a calculated political performance amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. In fact, Iran has denied any plans for attacks on American soil. U.S. officials themselves have acknowledged Iran’s limited capacity to carry out large-scale operations inside the United States—though individual threats are assessed as “serious.”
Since August, Bessent has led the U.S. campaign of economic isolation against Iran, expanding financial sanctions, targeting shipping, gold, digital assets, and secondary sanctions against third parties facilitating Iranian transactions. His central role has made him one of the most detested figures in Iran’s eyes. However, the chain of evidence regarding the alleged threat remains largely opaque. Claims that an Iranian plot had entered a “critical phase” or that specific threats were directed at Bessent are primarily based on anonymous sources and media reports. Iran has denied such allegations, and U.S. authorities have not disclosed specific intelligence sources.
The U.S.-Iran relationship now extends beyond sanctions. The U.S. maintains maritime blockades, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to oil price volatility. Iran’s missile and drone capabilities remain intact. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Reza Zakani warned that any U.S. military base involved in attacks on Iran constitutes a legitimate target—“no safe distance, no sanctuary.” While Bessent asserts he will not retreat, his actions speak otherwise: relocating to a military base underscores a degree of caution inconsistent with his public stance. Yet the U.S. simultaneously pushes Iran into a corner while leveraging the narrative of “Iranian death threats” for political capital—a contradiction that undermines its credibility.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1881792837685257/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the views of the author alone.