08/16/2023 Tehran, Iran. A view of the single nozzle fuel dispenser of a gas station in Tehran. (Photo by Hossein Beris / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Hossein Beris | Afp | Getty Images
A hacking group widely reported as being linked to Israel has taken responsibility for a cyberattack that’s knocked out the majority of gas stations across Iran, leading to long lines of cars and angry crowds.
Iranian state TV cited the country’s Oil Minister Javad Owji saying that outside interference was a possible cause after 70% of Iran’s gas stations were hit by service disruptions, according to Reuters.
A group called Gonjeshke Darande, or Predatory Sparrow, claimed it was behind the attack in a post on the social media site X.
“We, Gonjeshke Darande, carried out another cyberattack today, taking out a majority of the gas pumps throughout Iran. This cyberattack comes in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic and its proxies in the region,” the post read.
Addressing Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the group added: “Khamenei, playing with fire has a price.”
Gonjeshke Darande has claimed responsibility for previous cyberattacks on Iran, including one on Iran’s major steel companies.
Iran’s civil defense agency said an investigation was underway and that it was still examining all possible causes for the disruption. Israeli media has covered the alleged attack, but Israel’s government has not commented on it.