'Khamenei, Playing With Fire Has A Price': 70 Per Cent Of Iranian Gas Stations Out Of Service After Cyberattack By Israel-Linked Hacktivists

In a notable development, Iranian gas stations grappled with extensive disruptions as the 'Gonjeshke Darande' or 'Predatory Sparrow,' an Israel-linked hacking activist group, asserted responsibility for the shutdown.

As the news unfolded, Iranian Ministry of Energy reluctantly confirmed on Monday (18 December) that a substantial 70 percent of the nation's gas stations now stand paralysed, as reported by i24news.

The hackers, leaving their digital graffiti, released a statement placing the blame squarely on what they perceive as the Islamic Republic's regional aggression.

The statement cautioned that there's a price for "Khamenei playing with fire," while affirming that 30 per cent of the gas stations are operational, designated as a "humanitarian corridor."

Although Iranian state media acknowledged disruptions in some Tehran gas stations, the precise cause of the outage remains shrouded in uncertainty.

The situation is dynamic, and ongoing updates will follow as more details emerge.