Iran Rejects French Allegations of Cyber-Attacks on Supermarket Refrigeration

The Iranian government has officially denied accusations that it was behind a series of cyber-attacks targeting supermarket refrigeration systems across France and other European nations. Tensions in Iran-French relations have escalated following claims by French officials that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was responsible for the sabotage.

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot labeled the incidents as unprecedented in scale and aggression, describing them as a major threat to national security. The French government subsequently summoned the Iranian ambassador to Paris to issue a formal protest. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that an investigation has been opened into the head of an offensive cyber unit known as Shahid Kaveh, which is allegedly linked to the IRGC.

Iran has denied accusations that it orchestrated cyber-attacks on European supermarket refrigeration systems.

The scope of the cyber-attacks

The disruption began on October 11, when hackers gained control of software provided by the Danish firm Danfoss, which allows retailers to manage temperature settings remotely. The attacks affected hundreds of stores, including branches of Intermarché, Netto, and Coopérative U, with some refrigeration units reaching temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius. Subsequent waves of attacks hit supermarkets in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Finland.

While some Russian-aligned groups claimed responsibility, experts remain skeptical. Attribution of such cyber-attacks is notoriously difficult, and the French government has not disclosed the specific evidence used to link the incidents to Iran. Meanwhile, reports indicate that similar malfunctions occurred at US military bases in August, which are also being investigated as deliberate cyber-attacks.

Why it matters

The sabotage of supermarket refrigeration systems resulted in the destruction of significant quantities of frozen and chilled food across multiple countries. This incident highlights the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure that relies on remote-access software, raising concerns about the potential for future large-scale disruption to food supply chains.