Iran mocks France after Paris blames IRGC unit for supermarket cyberattack
Tehran rejected allegations that an Iranian cyber unit disrupted refrigeration systems across 700 French establishments, causing food spoilage and fires.
A diplomatic dispute has emerged between France and Iran after French authorities attributed a cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration systems to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unit. According to reports from Times of India, the operation occurred on the night of October 11-12 and affected approximately 700 establishments, including supermarkets, butcher shops, and food-processing factories.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs identified the perpetrator as Shahid Kaveh, an offensive cyber unit linked to the IRGC's Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defence Organization. Officials stated the hackers remotely changed temperature settings, leading to food spoilage worth tens of millions of euros and at least 15 reported fires.
French authorities described the incident as an act of unprecedented aggressiveness, noting it was the first cyber campaign on French territory intended solely to cause physical damage. The ministry added that the group poses a persistent threat to critical infrastructure and that the breach violated international law and United Nations norms.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi rejected the claims, mocking the French government for being "unable to manage fridges." In a post on X, Araghchi accused Paris of blaming external actors to hide domestic failures and criticised France's position regarding the conflict in Gaza.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Iranian ambassador would be summoned to receive a formal protest. The French government is also considering further diplomatic measures and warned that the European Union could impose additional sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities linked to the operation.
