France Accuses Iran of Large-Scale Cyberattack Targeting Supermarket Cold Chains
France has accused Iran of conducting cyber‑attacks that caused temperatures to rise in supermarket fridges and freezers.
Speaking at a press conference, French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot stated that the cyber‑attack was carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
He characterized the incident as unprecedented in both its scope and its level of aggression, and announced that the European Union would impose sanctions on all perpetrators.
The cyber‑attack last month affected hundreds of supermarkets nationwide, causing temperature spikes in fridges and freezers that led to the spoilage of fresh and frozen products valued at millions of euros.
In the following week, multiple supermarket chains across seven additional European nations experienced a similar cyber‑attack targeting refrigeration units. Whether there was a direct link to the initial incident remains unclear.
Irans authorities have not yet responded to the French allegations.
Separately on Monday, Prosecutor Laure Beccuau opened an investigation into the head of an offensive cyber unit linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as his two deputies.
Beccuau identified the unit as Shahid Kaveh, noting its affiliation with the IRGC’s electronic and cyber command.
On 11 October, hackers gained control of the software governing temperature regulation in refrigeration units across numerous French supermarket chains.
Over 100 stores belonging to Coopérative U were impacted, along with 180 Intermarché locations including its Netto brand. In certain outlets, fridge temperatures rose to 50°C (120°F) overnight.
