An Israeli-linked hacker group has claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack on Iran’s Bank Sepah, reportedly destroying all its data. The group, known as Gonjeshke Darandeh, posted about the attack on social media platform X.
According to the Times of Israel, the hackers alleged that Bank Sepah was funding Iran’s ballistic missile program, military nuclear plans, and terrorist networks by ignoring international sanctions. The group stated this is the fate of institutions that support a dictator’s violent ambitions.
Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars News reported that Bank Sepah customers faced severe service disruptions early this morning. Reports suggest banking services were temporarily suspended due to the cyberattack, causing inconvenience for many users.
The hackers further claimed they had disrupted the bank’s operations and thanked “brave Iranians” who helped carry out the attack. In previous years, the same group has taken responsibility for attacks on Iranian petrol stations and a steel factory.
Meanwhile, Fars News warned that the cyberattack could affect fuel stations relying on Bank Sepah for transactions. However, they also expressed hope that the issue would be resolved within a few hours.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for Iran’s Central Bank told IRNA, the official state news agency, that all banking services across the country were operating normally, and customers were receiving uninterrupted services.