Iran Rejects French Accusations Linking Tehran to Supermarket Fridge Cyberattacks

OPA WIRE, Nov 11 (OPA) — Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday categorically rejected allegations from Paris linking the Islamic Republic to cyberattacks on French supermarket refrigeration units last month. The ministry condemned what it termed a hackneyed policy of leveling baseless accusations against Tehran.

The diplomatic friction follows a statement by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Monday asserting that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps orchestrated the overnight attacks on October 11-12. The cyber intrusions manually overrode temperatures in refrigerators and freezers across hundreds of stores, including locations operated by Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, and Coopérative U, forcing retailers to discard large quantities of perishable food.

Paris responded by summoning the Iranian ambassador, pushing for European-level sanctions, and warning that additional proportionate measures would be taken to deter future actions. French officials also noted previous incidents, pointing to a 2023 cyberattack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and hostile actions during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Tehran countered by accusing Paris of projecting domestic governance failures onto external actors. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the French administration on X, writing that the government was shifting blame for its own shortcomings, while the European Union announced plans to weigh a unified response.