France Blames Iran for Supermarket Refrigerator Cyberattacks

France attributed last month’s sabotage of supermarket refrigeration systems to Iran on November 9, saying a cyberoffensive unit linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out the attacks. The Foreign Ministry said controllers at more than 700 French retail sites were targeted during the night of October 11–12. The ministry identified the unit as Shahid Kaveh, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards’ electronic and cyber centre. It said the attacks caused substantial material damage, fires and food losses estimated at tens of millions of euros. “France will propose to its European partners the adoption of new sanctions,” the ministry said, targeting Iranian entities and individuals involved. A technical report by France’s cyber crisis coordination body, C4, said attackers changed refrigeration equipment’s defrost settings to high temperatures. Investigators recorded major merchandise losses and at least 15 fires. The affected businesses included Casino, Leclerc, Coopérative U, Metro, Carrefour and Intermarché, as well as smaller food businesses. The report cited reused reconnaissance infrastructure, Farsi traces and publicity on an outlet associated with the unit among the evidence behind its attribution. The ministry described the operation as the first cyberoffensive campaign conducted purely for sabotage on French territory. France also reserved the right to take further public or nonpublic measures it considered necessary and proportionate.