The oil minister in Iran confirmed on Monday that a cyberattack caused a nationwide disruption to gas stations.
According to Reuters, the hacking group known as “Gonjeshke Darande” or “Predatory Sparrow” has asserted responsibility for the attack, as per information from Iranian state TV and Israeli local media.
Iran’s Oil Minister, Javad Owji, informed Iranian state TV in the early stages that approximately 70% of Iran’s petrol stations were impacted by the disruption. He suggested that the cause might be attributed to external interference.
Subsequently, the Oil Minister clarified that out of the 3,800 stations under the ministry’s supervision, 1,650 were still operational despite the disruption. a cyberattack caused
In a statement posted on Telegram, Gonjeshke Darande claimed responsibility for the cyberattack, a claim supported by reports from Iran’s state TV news and local media outlets in Israel. The statement declared, “We, Gonjeshke Darande, carried out another cyberattack today, taking out a majority of the gas pumps throughout Iran.” It further asserted that the attack was a response to the perceived aggression of the Islamic Republic and its regional proxies.
“A month ago, we warned you that we’re back and that we will impose cost for your provocations,” the statement continued. “This is just a taste of what we have in store.”
Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heinrich said during a press briefing on Monday that there is nothing to say about Iran’s claims, when asked about the cyberattacks.