France Accuses Iran of Cyberattacks on Supermarket Refrigeration Systems, Threatens Retaliation

French officials have accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of orchestrating cyberattacks that disrupted refrigeration systems across hundreds of supermarkets in France in October. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to the French Foreign Ministry and warned that the country could face further European Union sanctions. The attacks caused widespread disruption, resulting in food spoilage and fires at several retail locations.

According to a joint report by French intelligence and cybersecurity agencies, an Iranian cyber unit known as Shahid Kaveh was allegedly responsible for the attacks. Investigators identified three individuals linked to the operation and said the hackers used groups posing as independent cyber activists to carry out the intrusions. Around 700 commercial sites were reportedly targeted across France, with at least 15 fires recorded after refrigeration temperatures were manipulated. Supermarkets, butcher shops, slaughterhouses and food-processing facilities were among those affected.

The incident has raised wider concerns about cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure, particularly industrial refrigeration systems. A separate wave of attacks reportedly affected more than 100 establishments across Europe, including French blood banks, forcing staff to transfer blood supplies to alternative storage facilities. Similar refrigerator malfunctions at US military commissaries are also being investigated as suspected cyberattacks. Iran has not responded to the latest allegations, while cybersecurity experts have highlighted outdated software and vulnerable systems as possible weaknesses exploited by hackers.

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