France Blames Iran for Cyber Fridge Attacks

The French government formally accused Iran of launching a cyberattack campaign that disrupted refrigeration systems at approximately 700 retail locations across the country in October. The attack, which targeted supermarkets and butcher shops, caused temperature spikes overnight that spoiled millions of dollars in food products. France’s National Cybersecurity Agency, ANSSI, stated that Iranian military hackers gained control of industrial refrigeration controllers to execute the disruption.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the incident as the first large-scale cyberattack aimed at sabotage on French national territory. He noted that the operation marked a major strike against the nation's interests and the security of its citizens. The agency also reported that several small hydroelectric power plants were targeted, resulting in moderate operational effects according to its official press release.

The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into the Iranian cyber unit Shahid Kaveh, which the French government links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The prosecutor's office requested the issuance of international arrest warrants for the individuals involved. ANSSI identified the attackers through digital infrastructure clues, connections to a propaganda outlet, and traces of the Farsi language within the attack code.

The French accusations arrive amid a wider trend of attacks on refrigeration systems globally. In 2026, hackers have targeted cooling controllers in Europe, Israel, and the United States. Grocery stores in Sweden and Ireland suffered similar disruptions last week. In a separate incident in France, staff at a major blood bank quickly intervened to save samples when their refrigeration system was compromised last week.

Cybersecurity analyst Alex Orleans of Sublime Security said the attacks fit a known pattern of Iranian operations. He noted that the Shahid Kaveh unit has previously targeted American water treatment plants and Israeli industrial sites. Orleans explained that these operations allow Iran to reassert power abroad through physically and psychologically disruptive means while its national resources remain tied down in the war.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the attribution during a G7 meeting in Paris on Monday. While he said he could not comment on specific information sharing, he described the French as capable and expressed surprise at the targets. Rubio asked, "What kind of sickos are these people? They attack refrigerators," noting that France is not directly involved in the current war between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran has not yet responded to the French accusations. The U.S. Department of War has not officially confirmed its suspicion that Iran was behind similar disruptions on U.S. military bases in August. A spokesperson for the Department of War Office of the Inspector General stated that the agency does not discuss ongoing investigations.