France summons Iran's ambassador over cyberattack on commercial sites

France summoned Iran's ambassador for a reprimand after a cyberattack attributed to Iran's Revolutionary Guards targeted hundreds of commercial sites, destroying food and causing fires. French Foreign Minister Noel Barrot threatened further EU sanctions.

France summoned the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday for a reprimand following an unusual cyberattack attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The attack, which occurred on October 11, affected about 700 commercial sites in France, including supermarkets, butcher shops, and food factories. Hackers remotely took over cooling systems, raised temperatures, and caused the destruction of large quantities of food and at least 15 fires. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the incident as 'an attack of unprecedented scale and aggression' and threatened further measures, including promoting EU sanctions against Tehran. Researchers in France attribute the attack to a cyber unit named 'Shaheed Kaveh' linked to the Revolutionary Guards, and identified three suspects for whom they seek international arrest warrants. The affair occurs against the backdrop of rising tensions between France and Iran, which escalated after the expulsion of diplomats in recent months.