TEHRAN, Iran — Practically 70% of Iran’s fuel stations went out of service on Monday following potential sabotage – a reference to cyberattacks, Iranian state TV reported.

The report stated a “software program downside” brought on the irregularity within the fuel stations. It urged folks to not rush to the stations that have been nonetheless operational.

Israeli media, together with the Instances of Israel, blamed the issue on an assault by a hacker group dubbed “Gonjeshke Darande” or predatory sparrow.

State TV quoted an announcement by the Oil Ministry as saying greater than 30% of fuel stations stay in service. The nation has some 33,000 fuel stations.

Lately, Iran has seen a collection of cyberattacks on its filling stations, railway system and industries. Surveillance cameras in authorities buildings, together with prisons, have additionally been hacked previously.

In 2022, the Gonjeshke Darande group hacked a significant metal firm within the southwest of the nation. A cyberattack on Iran’s gas distribution system in 2021 paralyzed fuel stations throughout the nation, resulting in lengthy traces of offended motorists. The hacking group claimed accountability for the assault on gas pumps.

The nation disconnected a lot of its authorities infrastructure from the web after the Stuxnet laptop virus – extensively believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation – disrupted 1000’s of Iranian centrifuges within the nation’s nuclear websites within the late 2000s.

Iran, lengthy sanctioned by the West, faces difficulties in getting up-to-date {hardware} and software program, usually counting on Chinese language-manufactured electronics or older programs not being patched by producers. That will make it simpler for a possible hacker to focus on. Pirated variations of Home windows and different software program are widespread throughout Iran.