Iran gas stations hit by cyberattack: Oil minister
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji on Monday confirmed that a nationwide disruption to gas stations was caused by a cyberattack.
A hacking group that Iran accuses of having links to Israel claimed it carried out the attack that disrupted services at gas stations across the country on Monday.
Owji had earlier told Iranian national TV that services had been disrupted at about 70% of Iran’s gas stations and that outside interference was a possible cause. He later said 1,650 gas stations were operational. The ministry supervises 3,800 gas stations, Reuters wrote.
Iran’s TV news said a group called Gonjeshke Darande or “Predatory Sparrow” had claimed it was behind the disruption. Israeli local media outlets also reported the claim.
Asked about the cyberattacks, Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heinrich told a press briefing on Monday: “We have nothing to say about Iran’s claims.”
Iran’s civil defence agency, which is responsible for cybersecurity, said it was still considering all possible causes for the disruptions as it investigated.
Iranian media added that the hacker group had in the past claimed cyberattacks against Iranian gas stations, rail networks, and steel factories.
Monday’s disruption began early and was especially acute in Tehran, forcing many gas stations to operate manually, Iranian media reported.
Reza Navar, a spokesperson for Iran’s gas stations association, told the Fars news agency that there was no fuel supply shortage but called on drivers not to go to gas
stations.
“A software problem with the fuel system has been confirmed in some stations across the country, and experts are currently fixing the issue,” Navar said.
The Oil Ministry earlier told Iranian TV that the disruption was not linked to plans to increase the price of fuel.
National TV said gas stations were seeking to provide fuel manually adding that over 50% of the stations were providing services and trials to get more back online were underway.