Iran live updates: Bessent blasts Iranian threats

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply attacked Iranian leadership on Friday in response to his recent move to a military base because of Iranian threats.

"'F' the Iranian leadership," Bessent said on CNBC this morning, when asked about the recent news and his current safety.

"I'm not going to be cowered that they have initiated death threats against me. The other members of the cabinet were not going to be cowered," he said.

Bessent claimed that these threats against him mean the economic campaign Treasury launched in August against countries and entities that do business with Iran is "working."

"The IRGC, they're like a dangerous, cornered animal. So I follow the Secret Service instructions and have moved from my home to a military base," Bessent said.

Bessent touted U.S. strength during the war through economic restrictions on Iran.

"We are squeezing the regime. I think that they are panicked. In what they're seeing for the first time since they began producing oil, they have no oil on the water. They have no revenues, and we have cut them off," Bessent said.

Asked about next steps in settling the war and if there is concern that Iran will ramp up aggression because they’re "cornered," Bessent claimed Iranians will "eventually want to make a deal."

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

The U.S. denied Iran's claim that it destroyed an American early warning radar in Bahrain.

"The IRGC launched two one-way attack drones toward Bahrain and both were shot down by U.S. forces. There were no injuries or damage," U.S. Central Command said Friday.

The IRGC claimed its the attack was carried out in response to a U.S. strike on a telecommunications tower in the southern Iranian port of Sirik, warning the U.S. to cease its hostilities, according to Iran's state-owned Press TV.

The IRGC also claimed a tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine while trying to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported.

A White House official would not say whether U.S. talks with Iran have ended, after President Donald Trump posted on social media Thursday morning that "We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed."

When asked whether the president meant there are no more negotiations happening with the Iranians, the official provided a statement highlighting what Trump said this morning -- the U.S. naval blockade and economic pressure against Iran -- adding, "President Trump holds all the cards, will do what is best for the United States, and will make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon."

"The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. The President has been clear that the greatest naval blockade in history, Operation Economic Outcast, and the new Operation Iron Gate will continue with full effect. President Trump holds all the cards, will do what is best for the United States, and will make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon," a White House official said in a statement.

The president's post came after he said the war with Iran would end "soon" on Wednesday during his Veteran's Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery.

President Donald Trump said in a post to social media on Thursday that the U.S. doesn't "need a deal with Iran," adding that he had directed Vice President JD Vance -- a key Iran war negotiator -- to instead focus "his complete and total attention" on tackling alleged corruption and crime in Democrat-run cities and states.

"We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" he wrote.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray