Petrol stations across Iran halted sales on Tuesday after a government system controlling fuel subsidies suffered a widespread power cut, in an incident described briefly by semi-official ISNA news agency as a "cyber attack".
Images shared on a state TV Telegram account showed long queues of cars waiting to fill up in Tehran, only weeks before the country was due to mark the anniversary of the 2019 fuel protests which broke out after prices increased by up to 200 per cent.
No explanation was given by officials about what caused the issue on Tuesday but oil ministry officials were holding an “emergency meeting” to solve the technical problem.
Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Tuesday said the disruption at some gas stations was “due to a technical and systemic problem and will be fixed soon”. He said that there was no plan to increase the price of petrol.
The semi-official ISNA news agency called the incident a cyber attack but later retracted the statement. It reported that those trying to buy fuel with a government-issued card through the machines received a message reading “cyberattack 64411”.
Most Iranians rely on government subsidies to fuel their vehicles – particularly amid the country’s economic downturn.
In 2019, thousands of people took to the streets across Iran to protest against sudden fuel price rises. Amnesty International estimated that more than 300 people were killed, with thousands more arrested.
The code said to have shown up on machines at petrol stations is associated with a telephone hotline run through the office of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that handles questions about Sharia.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the power cut. However, the use of the number 64411 mirrored an attack in July on Iran’s railway system in which the same number was displayed.
Social media users noted that electronic billboards around the country also displayed messages reading: “Khamenei, where is our fuel?”
Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point later attributed the railway cyber attack to a group of hackers that called themselves Indra, after the Hindu god of war.
Iran has experienced several high-profile cyber attacks in recent months, including one that in August leaked video of abuse of prisoners at Evin jail in Tehran.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
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