Electronic banking services in Iran were severely disrupted on Saturday after a cyberattack targeted several state-owned banks, temporarily preventing online payments.
According to a report by the Iranian business news outlet Eghtesad News on Saturday evening, the country's Banking Coordination Council confirmed the incidents but said the disruptions had since been resolved and online transactions were functioning normally again.
The Iranian hacker group Black Wolves claimed responsibility for the attack, writing on Telegram: "A silent war is unfolding, and Iran is under cyberattack."
Residents of Tehran reported that electronic payments suddenly stopped working in supermarkets, restaurants and gas stations,forcing some businesses to record purchases manually for later settlement. Four major state-owned banks and numerous ATMs in the capital were reportedly affected. Cyberattacks have repeatedly been used as a form of digital protest against Iran's ruling establishment. During the nationwide protests over women's rights in 2022, hackers targeted the country's central bank and breached surveillance systems at Evin Prison in Tehran, releasing footage showing guards violently assaulting political prisoners.
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