Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised the Iranian people not to pay their taxes.
Posted by The MeidasTouch Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 2 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 70%
The MeidasTouch PodcastOct 27, 2026
Bessent's own words, quoted in Iran International interview coverage published 2026-10-26 and 2026-10-27, state "My advice to the Iranian people would be: don't pay your taxes because you're not going to get anything back from the government."
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… There's going to be a big heating fuel shortage. That, in terms of gasoline, everyone should fill up their tanks now." Then he says he has more advice to the Iranian people: "Don't pay your taxes." He says this way he's telling the Iranian people, "The other advice I'd give them is don't don't pay your taxes, because you're not gonna get any government service." I'm Treasury Secretary Benson, is telling you, "Don't pay your taxes." This is how Operation Economic Outcast goes down. I just tell you, "Don't pay your taxes," and I think the problem is they're running out of dollars. …
The MeidasTouch Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Iran International quotes Bessent directly saying "My advice to the Iranian people would be: don't pay your taxes," in an interview conducted on Monday before the October 26 publication.[3][4]
Supports. The same coverage reports Bessent urging Iranians to stock up on heating fuel and gasoline, matching the surrounding context of the advice in the claimant's passage.[3][4]
Context. Reuters and AP coverage from August and September 2026 addresses Bessent's Iran sanctions and warnings against supporting Tehran, but does not mention the tax advice itself.[1][2]
Sources
4 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 2 not rated
- 1US eyes airlines, digital assets as Iran-related targets, ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2How Bessent's sanctions threats may pressure countries to ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3Video: Bessent urges Iranians to stop paying taxes, stock up ...iranintl.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Bessent says Iran economy will contract by more than 25%lranintl.com · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised the Iranian people to stock up on heating fuel due to an impending heating fuel shortage.True
- Scott Bessent is conducting an economic pressure campaign against Iran.True
- Scott Bessent is the Treasury Secretary.True
- Scott Bessent is buying up Treasury instruments to push interest rates down.True
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent managed a $4 billion fund that experienced 90% redemptions.Mixed