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Iran blames Israeli group for cyber attacks on petrol stations

Iran blames Israeli group for cyber attacks on petrol stations

Web Desk
Dec 19, 2023

TEHRAN: A hacking group, that Iran accuses of having links to Israel, claimed it carried out cyberattacks that disrupted services at petrol stations across Iran on Monday (December 18).

“A software problem with the fuel system has been confirmed in some stations across the country and experts are currently fixing the issue,” a spokesperson for Iran’s petrol stations association, Reza Navar, told semi-official Fars news agency.

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Oil Minister Javad Owji earlier told Iranian state TV that services had been disrupted at about 70 percent of Iran’s petrol stations and that outside interference was a possible cause. Iran’s state TV news said the Predatory Sparrow group claimed it was behind the disruption. Israeli local media outlets also reported the claim.

Iran’s civil defence agency, which is responsible for the country’s cybersecurity, said it was still considering all possible causes for the disruptions as it investigated.

If confirmed, it would not be the first time Iran’s fuel sales have been hacked: there was a major cyberattack in 2021 causing motorists to wait in long queues at petrol stations across Iran. Petrol pump prices in Iran are heavily subsidised. Iran accused Israel and the United States of being behind those attacks.