A cyberattack that disrupted gas stations across Iran on Monday has been attributed to a hacking group known for targeting the nation’s government facilities.
The group revealed the technical specifics of their operation on their Telegram channel and issued a warning to the Iranian leadership. This incident, which affected numerous gas stations in Tehran, was reported by Iranian state TV, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed.
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji earlier informed state TV that about 70% of the country’s gas pumps experienced service disruptions, hinting at potential external interference.
The Fars news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, suggested the disruptions were due to a widespread software glitch impacting gas stations.
Reza Navar, the spokesperson for Iran’s gas stations association, acknowledged the problem and confirmed that specialists are working on a solution, though he did not detail the disruption’s scope or the number of stations affected.
Navar assured that there is no fuel shortage and advised motorists to refrain from visiting gas stations until the issue is resolved.
The hacking group, known as “Gonjeshk-e-Darande” or Predatory Sparrow, first made headlines two years ago with a cyberattack on Iran’s fuel distribution network on the eve of the second anniversary of the November 2019 protests’ suppression.
They also claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Iran’s railway company. Last year, the group claimed to have infiltrated the computer systems of major Iranian steel companies, releasing videos and images of the operation.
Iran has experienced several significant cyber incidents, including the infamous Stuxnet computer virus attack in 2010, believed to be a joint effort by the United States (US) and Israel.
Stuxnet targeted an Iranian uranium enrichment facility and is notable as the first publicly acknowledged case of a virus being used to sabotage industrial machinery.
