Civil Defense Organization Claims Stake in Gas Station Hack: We Are Demanding Accountability

The Civil Defense Organization reported on the hack of gas stations, stating that there was a "lack of sufficient evidence" to determine the source of the malware and the government or groups responsible for this action, emphasizing that officials in the fuel network and the financial transaction network bear direct responsibility for accountability. This organization considers itself a "demanding party" in this matter. It has emphasized that a technical report on the attack on the fuel system has been sent to judicial authorities. The report states that the hack occurred through a vulnerability in the payment network. In late Azar, following the hack of the national fuel supply system, nearly 70% of fuel distribution stations were out of service, causing disruption in people's daily affairs. The Times of Israel reported at that time that a hacking group previously linked to Israel claimed to have paralyzed gas stations across Iran in a cyberattack. The group known as "Predatory Sparrow" announced that it had "disabled the majority of gas stations across Iran." The return of fuel supply to normal in Iran took several days after this hack. In the early days of the hack, gasoline was sold at "free" prices at stations, reaching up to 35,000 tomans per liter in the free market. The shutdown of the fuel card system and the sale of gasoline at free rates during those few days brought significant profits to the government, leading to criticism from some media outlets, including the newspaper "Arman Melli," which wrote: "With the hacking of gas stations, money is going from the pockets of the people to the government!" On November 4, 2021, a similar cyberattack targeted the fuel card system and gas stations across the country, causing widespread disruption in fuel supply for vehicles. Gholamreza Jalali, head of the Civil Defense Organization, stated last year after the cyberattack on gas stations: "Given the importance of the Communications Infrastructure Company, creating a defense section or deputy for such a structure is essential... Ensuring the continuity of operations in the Communications Infrastructure Company and the resilience of the network are among the most important goals of civil defense actions that must be pursued seriously." A citizen's account of gasoline shortages at gas stations in Sanandaj, long lines of cars to receive gasoline from a gas station in Zahedan. The Minister of Oil described the hack of fuel stations as a "conspiracy"; refueling remains disrupted. Reactions to the gas station hack in Iran; effective cyberattacks are "out of number." The repercussions of the hack on fuel stations continue; free gasoline has reached 35,000 tomans. Nationwide disruptions followed cyberattacks on gas stations; "Predatory Sparrow" claimed responsibility for these attacks. The gasoline crisis will continue; a forecast of $3 billion in gasoline imports.