France has accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of orchestrating a cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration systems. The attack occurred overnight on October 11 and 12, 2026, targeting approximately 700 supermarkets across the country, including major chains such as Carrefour, Monoprix, and E.Leclerc.
The attackers remotely disabled the cooling mechanisms of refrigeration units, causing temperatures to rise to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). This led to the spoilage of fresh produce, dairy, and frozen goods, with losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the attack as unprecedented in scale and aggressiveness, marking it as the first large-scale cyberattack aimed at sabotage on French soil. The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a formal investigation into the attack, citing the involvement of the Shahid Kaveh group, a cyber unit affiliated with the IRGC.
Investigators have found evidence of Farsi usage and IP addresses linked to devices located in Iran. The attack has triggered a diplomatic crisis between France and Iran, with France summoning the Iranian ambassador to protest.
The incident has prompted urgent reviews of cybersecurity protocols within the European retail sector.