Hackers Claim Responsibility For Disruption At Gas Stations Across Iran

A hacking group known for targeting government facilities in Iran has claimed responsibility for a nationwide attack disrupting gas stations on Monday.

The group provided technical details on their Telegram channel, warning Iranian leadership. Iranian state TV reported disruptions in services at numerous gas stations in the capital, with the cause yet to be determined.

Oil Minister Javad Owji earlier told Iranian state TV that services had been disrupted at about 70% of Iran's pumps and that outside interference was a possible cause.

The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency linked the issue to a widespread software malfunction affecting gas stations. Reza Navar, spokesperson for Iran’s gas stations association, claimed experts are addressing the problem. However, he did not specify the extent of the disruption or the number of affected stations.

Navar said that there is no shortage of fuel supply and urged drivers to avoid gas stations until the issue is resolved.

The hacking group "Gonjeshk-e-Darande" or Predatory Sparrow gained notoriety two years ago for a cyber attack on fuel distribution centers across Iran on the eve of the second anniversary of the suppression of the November 2019 protests. In a separate incident, they claimed responsibility for hacking the railway company.

Last year, the group reported hacking into the computer systems of major steel companies in Iran and released videos and images of the hacking operation.

Iran has a history of cyber incidents, with one of the most notable being the Stuxnet computer virus, believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel. The Stuxnet virus, discovered in 2010, was used to attack an Iranian uranium enrichment facility, marking the first publicly known instance of a virus being utilized to sabotage industrial machinery.