France Blames Iran's IRGC for Fridge Sabotage Hitting 700 Grocery Stores

French authorities have accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of sabotaging refrigeration systems at around 700 French grocery stores last month. They say the attack caused extensive food losses and at least 15 fires. A five-page report from France's Cyber Crisis Coordination Centre, which includes the national cybersecurity agency ANSSI, military cyber command and two intelligence services, named the group Shahid Kaveh as responsible. The unit was previously linked to attacks on industrial controllers at U.S. water utilities.

Victims included large chains and smaller businesses such as butchers, a slaughterhouse and cooperative food-processing plants. ANSSI also said the same hackers targeted Schneider Electric equipment at several small hydroelectric sites, though disruption there was described as moderate. The report does not cover a second wave in early November, which hit businesses in at least 11 European countries, including British meat suppliers and three sites run by France's national blood service.

France has summoned Iran's ambassador and will pursue European sanctions. The Paris Prosecutor's Office has opened a judicial investigation into the unit's head, two deputies and other suspects, and has requested international arrest warrants. Investigators cited Farsi text artefacts, tooling and infrastructure used in reconnaissance on other industrial equipment. This summary is based on the opening of the source article only.