Predatory Sparrow Cyberattack Disrupts Iran Bank Sepah Nationwide

Iran’s Bank Sepah, a key financial institution closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been hit by a significant cyberattack claimed by the hacker group Predatory Sparrow, which is linked to Israel. The group announced it destroyed all the bank’s data, causing widespread disruption to banking services nationwide, including ATM outages and branch closures, with customers unable to access accounts or withdraw money. The attack is reportedly part of a cyber warfare campaign targeting Iran’s military and financial apparatus, specifically criticizing Bank Sepah for its role in funding Iran’s missile, nuclear programs, and sanctions evasion. Despite official statements from Iran’s Central Bank asserting normal operations, multiple reports indicate ongoing service interruptions and public concern over the security of Iran’s financial system. The cyberattack marks a major escalation in digital hostilities between Iran and Israel, with implications for the stability of Iran’s national banking infrastructure. Iranian authorities are working to contain the breach, but no clear timeline for full recovery has been provided.