UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in a heated argument during International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington last month, according to sources familiar with the exchange.

The confrontation occurred in April during the IMF's regular spring gatherings, with sources indicating the dispute centered on matters related to Iran. People briefed on the exchange said Reeves told Bessent she did not approve of his tone during their meeting.

The argument was conducted in person between the two senior finance officials, marking a notable diplomatic friction between the UK and US at a high level. The Financial Times first reported the story, which was subsequently confirmed by sources speaking to other outlets.

The exchange represents the latest indication of growing tensions between the two allied nations on foreign policy matters. Both the UK Treasury and US Treasury Department have not publicly commented on the specifics of the reported disagreement.

The incident occurred during what are typically routine multilateral discussions among finance ministers and central bank officials from major economies. The IMF spring meetings serve as a regular forum for international economic coordination and policy discussions.