During a live interview on March 13, 2026, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was abruptly called away by the White House to attend urgent discussions in the Situation Room, highlighting the administration’s high-level focus on the financial fallout of the ongoing Iran conflict. Bessent, 63, was speaking with Sky News’ Wilfred Frost on “The Master Investor Podcast” inside the Treasury Department’s Cash Room when an aide informed him, “The president wants you right away,” roughly 13 minutes into the conversation.

Footage shows the microphone being removed from Bessent’s jacket as he departed at 10:22 a.m., and he returned nearly two hours later. Speaking afterward, Bessent said he covered a “plethora of things” during the meeting with President Trump, emphasizing the administration’s coordinated approach from economic policy to military strategy in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that began February 28 and killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Before leaving, Bessent addressed the interview questions regarding Trump’s mood and the U.S. military campaign. “The president is in great spirits, the Iranian mission is proceeding well ahead of schedule,” he said, adding that he would trust his own child’s life to the U.S. military leadership, including the Joint Chiefs and Secretary of War.

Financial indicators remain volatile as the conflict affects regional trade and energy markets. Bessent discussed the recent U.S. dollar surge and broader market impacts, noting the Iranian regime’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against international shipping. He confirmed that once the military threat is mitigated, the U.S. Navy, possibly with an international coalition, could begin escorting vessels safely through the strategic channel.

Bessent also addressed concerns regarding Iranian underwater mines, confirming that current evidence suggests the straits have not been mined, with Iranian and some Chinese-flagged tankers successfully transiting the Gulf. His remarks underscore both the administration’s proactive monitoring of maritime routes and its efforts to ensure the continued flow of critical energy supplies amid escalating military operations.

The sudden call to the Situation Room illustrates the real-time coordination between economic and defense leadership within the Trump administration, highlighting the interconnected nature of military, financial, and geopolitical decision-making during the ongoing Iran conflict.