Iran has strongly denied French allegations that it was behind a cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigerators and freezers across France, describing the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.
In a statement on Tuesday, 10 November, Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected claims that the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) organized the operation, which disrupted refrigeration systems at approximately 700 commercial locations in France last month.
Tehran accused the French government of making one-sided accusations against Iran and condemned what it described as an attempt to damage the country's international reputation.
The denial followed France's announcement that it had identified an Iranian cyber unit as responsible for the attacks carried out on 11 and 12 October.
France points to Iranian military cyber unit
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday that investigators had linked the operation to Shahid Kaveh, an offensive cyber unit allegedly affiliated with the IRGC's electronic and cyber command.
French intelligence and cybersecurity agencies reportedly identified several individuals suspected of involvement in the operation.
According to French investigators, the hackers remotely accessed refrigeration systems, changed temperature settings and disabled safety alerts designed to warn supermarket staff when equipment became too warm.
The interference caused food to spoil, resulting in financial losses for retailers. Authorities also reported fires at some affected locations.
Paris has described the incident as an unprecedented cyberattack against commercial infrastructure on French territory.
France threatens further action
Following the findings, France summoned Iran's ambassador and announced plans to seek European Union sanctions against those suspected of organizing the attacks.
Barrot warned that Paris was considering additional measures, including actions that might not be made public.
He said France wanted to discourage further cyber operations against its infrastructure, whether carried out by individuals in Iran or elsewhere.
The French government has also called for stronger European cooperation in responding to cyberattacks targeting essential services and commercial systems.
Concerns extend beyond France
The incident has raised wider concerns about the security of industrial equipment connected to the internet.
Similar disruptions involving supermarket refrigeration systems were reported in several other European countries in early November, including Belgium and Luxembourg. However, authorities have not established whether those incidents were connected to the French attack.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that outdated software and poorly protected remote-access systems can leave industrial equipment vulnerable to hackers.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has also warned of malicious cyber activity targeting industrial refrigeration and cold-chain monitoring systems internationally.
Diplomatic tensions deepen
The accusations come at a time of already strained relations between France and Iran, particularly over regional security, the war involving Iran and disputes surrounding diplomatic relations.
Iran's rejection means the two governments remain sharply divided over responsibility for the attacks.
While France says its investigation has identified an Iranian-linked cyber unit, Tehran maintains that the allegations are unfounded.
The dispute now risks developing into a broader diplomatic confrontation, particularly if France succeeds in securing EU sanctions or decides to take additional measures.
For the moment, investigators are continuing their work as European authorities examine the vulnerability of infrastructure that supports food storage and distribution.
