France and U.S. Attribute Supermarket Cyberattacks to Iran

France and the United States have attributed a series of unprecedented cyberattacks targeting European supermarket refrigerators and blood banks to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran. The initial wave of attacks on October 11 and 12 targeted more than 700 food distribution sites in France, including major chains such as Carrefour, E-Leclerc, and Monoprix. Hackers remotely raised refrigerator temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in damages from spoiled food, melted equipment, and fires.

A second wave of attacks in November expanded the scope, hitting over 100 establishments across at least nine European countries, including French blood banks. U.S. officials confirmed the campaign bears the hallmarks of Iranian cyber methods.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that France has summoned the Iranian ambassador and will propose European Union sanctions against those responsible. Simultaneously, the Paris prosecutor's office opened a judicial investigation into the Shahid Kaveh offensive cyber unit, requesting international arrest warrants for its leader and two deputies.