Iran says cyberattack blocks distribution at petrol stations

A cyberattack in Iran interrupted petrol distribution at the country's service stations on Tuesday, state television said, citing the Islamic republic's top security body.

"The Supreme National Security Council confirmed that there has been a cyberattack against the petrol distribution computer system," the television said.

It had earlier reported that the interruption was due to "disruptions to the computer system".

"Details of the attack and its source are under investigation," it added, without giving further details.

The conservative Fars news agency linked the breakdown to the upcoming second anniversary of deadly November protests sparked by a hike in petrol prices.

State television said the system disruption had blocked petrol pumps across the country.

Networks broadcast images of long lines at shut services stations.

An urgent meeting was being held at Iran's national society for the distribution of petrol products in order to resolve the problem, the body's spokesman Fatemeh Kahi said, quoted by state television.

In Tehran, technicians from the Ministry of Petrol took IT systems offline in a number of petrol stations to distribute fuel manually, state television reported later in the day.

Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi on Tuesday assured people that there are no plans to raise petrol prices, calling on them "not to worry", in remarks to the state broadcaster.