France accuses Iranian Revolutionary Guard cyber unit of supermarket cooling system attacks

The French government has officially accused the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of orchestrating cyberattacks against hundreds of supermarkets across France during October. These attacks targeted remote cooling and refrigeration systems, causing temperature spikes that resulted in the spoilage of perishable goods and losses amounting to millions of euros. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the state's involvement, labeling the incident an act of unprecedented severity and vowing that the nation would impose sanctions at a European level.

In response, the Paris Prosecutor's Office has launched a formal criminal investigation into the leaders of the Shahid Kaveh unit, a cyber-offensive group linked to the IRGC. Prosecutors have requested international arrest warrants for the unit’s leader and two associates, alleging crimes including fraudulent access to automated data systems and property damage orchestrated for a foreign power. While France summoned the Iranian ambassador to lodge a strong protest, Tehran continues to systematically deny any involvement in cyber operations. The investigation, which follows weeks of analysis by French anti-cybercrime authorities, is ongoing, with officials currently working to identify all individuals responsible for the attacks that affected retail chains in France and other countries.