France has announced that it intends to seek coordinated European action against Iran in response to a significant cyberattack that disrupted supermarket operations across the country. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on Tuesday that Paris is leaving no option off the table to address the incident, which targeted hundreds of supermarket refrigerators in October.
The French government has formally accused Tehran of orchestrating the sabotage. Barrot specifically identified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, as the entity responsible for the attacks. He described the incident as the first large-scale cyber sabotage of its kind on French territory, emphasizing the severity of the breach.
Speaking to FranceinfoTV, Barrot outlined the immediate diplomatic steps being taken. He confirmed that the Iranian ambassador to France would be summoned to discuss the matter. Additionally, the French government is seeking to implement sanctions at the European level to address the threat.
The foreign minister noted that while some measures may remain undisclosed to the public, all actions taken will be deemed proportionate and necessary. The primary objective of these measures is to deter potential future attacks. Barrot stated that the goal is to discourage any party, whether in Iran or elsewhere, from attempting similar operations again.
The cyberattacks occurred on October 11 and 12 and affected hundreds of French supermarkets. The sabotage involved raising the internal temperatures of refrigeration units, which forced many stores to discard large quantities of perishable food items. The disruption caused significant logistical challenges for retailers and resulted in substantial waste of inventory.
Barrot characterized the attack as unprecedented in both its scale and its aggressive nature. He made these remarks on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers' meeting held in Paris, highlighting the international context of the dispute.
The impact of the cyber threat has not been limited to France. Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the continent, suggesting a broader pattern of activity. On November 2, stores in at least nine other European countries experienced a suspected cyberattack on their freezer systems, mirroring the issues seen in France.
In parallel with diplomatic efforts, French authorities have initiated legal proceedings. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced on Monday that an investigation has been opened into Shahid Kaveh. This unit is described as a shadowy cyber division within the IRGC, which serves as the ideological army of the Islamic Republic.
The prosecutor's office has taken further action by requesting international arrest warrants for two officials associated with Shahid Kaveh. These legal steps underscore the seriousness with which the French government is treating the incident, combining diplomatic pressure with judicial measures to hold the perpetrators accountable.
