France has summoned Iran’s ambassador over cyberattacks that disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets in October. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of orchestrating the attacks, warned of possible French cyber retaliation and said Paris would push for EU sanctions against Tehran.
“The summoning of the Iranian ambassador, announced by the minister yesterday, took place this morning,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Barrot, speaking on France Info television, said France would push for EU sanctions in response to what he called an “attack of unprecedented scale and aggression in our country”. He said France’s cyberdefence doctrine provided authorities with a range of options.
He said there could be further action that would not be disclosed. “We will take whatever measures are necessary, including some that we will not discuss publicly, if we judge them proportionate and necessary to deter any new attacks and punish those responsible for this unacceptable aggression,” Barrot said.
The supermarket hacks, which struck hundreds of stores in early October, were among the most disruptive cyberattacks since the Iran war began in February, a conflict marked by sporadic episodes of suspected digital sabotage. The attack disrupted commercial refrigeration systems across France.
French officials said on Monday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were behind the attacks. However, Iran routinely denies carrying out malicious cyber operations.
Other incidents have included hacks targeting the Los Angeles transit system in March and US water treatment plants in July.
