France accuses Iran of hacking supermarket coolers

France formally accused Iran of orchestrating a cyberattack that overheated refrigeration systems in roughly 700 supermarkets in October. The action forced retailers to discard spoiled food and triggered a push for European sanctions against the perpetrators.

Paris prosecutors announced on Monday that a formal judicial investigation is now open. They concluded that Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was responsible for the incident. The case is being treated as organized cybercrime committed to serve the interests of a foreign power.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the event as the first large-scale sabotage cyberattack on French soil. He stated that the attack posed a major threat to national interests and the safety of the public. Barrot said the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to register a strong protest.

The attack occurred in the early hours of October 12. Attackers remotely controlled cooling units in hundreds of supermarkets and independent shops. Temperatures inside the refrigerators climbed to 50 degrees Celsius for approximately six hours. The heat rendered fresh and frozen goods inedible, causing immediate financial losses.

Laure Beccau, the Paris prosecutor, said investigators found evidence linking the hackers to Iran. The attackers used Farsi language settings and IP addresses tied to devices located within the country. Beccau confirmed that authorities are seeking international arrest warrants for the individuals involved.

The investigation names Shahid Kaveh as a primary target. He leads an Iranian cyber unit affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His two deputies are also under scrutiny, alongside any other persons identified as part of the operation. The prosecutors aim to hold all responsible parties accountable through legal channels.

The Intermarché supermarket chain reported losing tens of millions of euros in a single day due to the incident. The damage extended beyond major chains to independent stores across the nation. France's national cybersecurity agency is also investigating a similar, thwarted attack on blood banks that occurred last week.