Iranian Hackers Breach U.S. Gas Station Fuel Monitoring Systems

U.S. officials suspect Iranian hackers breached automatic tank gauge systems at gas stations across multiple states, exploiting internet-connected devices that lacked password protection to alter fuel level display readings. While the actual volume of fuel in the tanks remained unchanged and no physical damage or injuries occurred, security experts warn the access could allow operators to miss fuel leaks or make decisions based on falsified data. U.S. intelligence identifies Iran as the leading suspect given its history of targeting fuel and water infrastructure, though officials caution that limited forensic evidence has prevented definitive attribution. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI have not publicly commented on the breach. The intrusions fit a broader pattern of escalating Tehran-linked cyber activity during the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Previous attacks targeted U.S. water utilities, oil and gas sites, and the private emails of FBI Director Kash Patel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization was blamed for the water utility attacks. Although the Israel Defense Forces struck Iran's Cyber Warfare headquarters in March, officials and experts say Iranian cyber operations are accelerating in both scale and speed. The breaches highlight persistent vulnerabilities in U.S. critical infrastructure and have raised concerns about potential Iranian information operations targeting the upcoming midterm elections.