'No way to pay': banking, internet outage hit Iranians amid Israeli strikes
Amid mass evacuation orders and fears of wider conflict, Iranians at home and abroad are reporting major disruptions to banking and internet services, adding to the chaos as Israeli airstrikes and US warnings drive thousands to flee major cities.
Messages and videos sent to Iran International reveal a nationwide breakdown in financial services. “You can’t even buy internet from Irancell,” one audience wrote.
“We have no way to pay,” another said, with bank systems crashing and cash machines out of service.
“The systems are obsolete and unprepared for modern cyberattacks,” AI and IT analyst Sahar Tahvili told Iran International.
“Cyberattacks in wartime are designed to cripple physical systems like transport, banks, and energy—and disrupt communication to undermine coordination.”
Sepah Bank has been entirely knocked offline, according to dozens of reports.
Hackers from the group Predatory Sparrow claimed responsibility. “We have destroyed all of Sepah Bank’s data in a cyber operation,” a statement by the group said.
ATMs out of service
The bank’s website and mobile services remain inaccessible. Users reported Sepah cards are all non-functional, with some ATMs across Tehran and other provinces out of cash.
Despite official denials, users across the country told Iran International that major banks, including Melli, Pasargad, and Eghtesad-e Novin, are also facing service failures.
“I’ve visited ten ATMs today,” said one man in Tehran. “None had any cash.”
Fars News Agency, tied to the Revolutionary Guards, confirmed a cyberattack disrupted Sepah’s remote services and warned of possible fuel station outages due to the bank’s backend support for some gas outlets.
Iran's central bank said banking infrastructure is stable and services were operating normally.
People in Tehran and other cities reported significant drop in internet speeds, some suggesting connection was all but impossible.
The impact stretches beyond Iran’s borders. Iranians stranded abroad due to flight cancellations say they are unable to access funds.
“I converted money to Tether, but crypto platforms block all transactions or require confirmation codes sent to Iranian phones—which don’t work here as roaming is down,” said a tourist stuck in Turkey.
“We came for a one-week trip, now we can’t pay for the hotel.”
Worse to come?
Retired military personnel who rely on Bank Sepah for pensions have also been affected.
“I served in the army for 30 years,” said one veteran. “Now I can’t even withdraw my pension while my children try to leave the city.”
With digital payments frozen, gold markets also ground to a halt.
"Gold shops are closed, and online platforms for selling gold are down,” a Tehran resident said.
Iran’s Cyber Security Command has issued a directive prohibiting government officials and their security teams from using any devices connected to public communication or telecommunications networks, Fars News Agency reported Tuesday.
The move comes amid rising concerns over mobile phone tracking being used for targeted assassinations within Iran. It also appears intended to prevent incidents similar to last year’s Israeli pager-based attack on Hezbollah operatives.
As infrastructure collapses under pressure from cyberattacks and conflict, many Iranians are left without cash, connectivity, or a clear way out.