The Impressive TimesTehran, June 17 – In a bold cyber offensive, a hacktivist group known as Predatory Sparrow has claimed responsibility for a significant cyberattack on Iran’s Bank Sepah, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential banks with reported connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The group, which operates under the Persian name Gonjeshke Darande and is believed to support pro-Israel and anti-Iran establishment causes, took to social media platform X to declare that it had completely destroyed the bank’s data infrastructure. The post stated:
“Destruction of the infrastructure of the IRGC’s Bank Sepah. We destroyed the data used to support Iran’s terrorist proxies, missile programs, and nuclear ambitions.”
The cyberattack has reportedly triggered widespread banking disruptions across Iran, with several Bank Sepah branches shuttered on Tuesday. Customers speaking to Iran International claimed they were unable to access their funds, and digital banking services remained non-functional.
The impact appears to extend beyond banking. According to local sources, Iran’s fuel stations, which depend on Bank Sepah’s payment systems, have also experienced operational issues.
Bank Sepah, with 1,800 domestic branches and international offices in Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, has long faced scrutiny over its alleged role in bypassing global sanctions. The U.S. sanctioned the bank in 2019 after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.
Further compounding the crisis, users also reported outages involving Kosar and Ansar bank cards, both affiliated with Iran’s military financial network. Notably, Ansar Bank is also under American sanctions.
Despite the chaos, Iranian officials have not issued any formal statement regarding the cyberattack or its potential consequences. Meanwhile, Predatory Sparrow concluded its statement by thanking “brave Iranians” who they claim helped execute the operation.
No Comments: