France Blames Iran for Supermarket Fridge Hack: Full Timeline & Sanctions
France blamed Iran's Revolutionary Guard for hacking supermarket fridges at 700 sites, sparking fires and spoiling food, and vowed EU sanctions.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Wolfmann
PARIS, Nov. 10, 2026 — France on Monday accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of carrying out cyberattacks that knocked out refrigeration systems at supermarkets across the country last month, in what the French government described as the first large-scale cyber sabotage on its national territory.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the government could confirm the Revolutionary Guard was behind the attacks, which struck about 700 commercial sites on Oct. 11 and 12. Hackers overrode temperature controls on fridges and freezers, pushing temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, spoiling food and starting at least 15 fires, French agencies said in a joint report.
Key Takeaways
- France has blamed Iran's Revolutionary Guard for the Oct. 11-12 cyberattacks on about 700 supermarket and food sites.
- Hackers raised fridge temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius, spoiling food and starting at least 15 fires.
- French agencies named the Guard cyber unit Shahid Kaveh and three alleged operatives; prosecutors have sought international arrest warrants.
- Paris summoned Iran's ambassador and is pressing for EU sanctions, after a similar attack hit nine other European countries on Nov. 2.
What Happened in the France Supermarket Fridge Cyberattack: Full Timeline
The attacks began overnight on Oct. 11, when hackers remotely connected to supermarket refrigeration systems and raised temperatures by switching on defrost cycles. Fridges and freezers warmed to as high as 50 degrees Celsius, forcing supermarkets to throw away their perishable goods.
The disruption did not stop at France's borders. On Nov. 2, stores across at least nine other European countries were hit by a freezer-system cyberattack, including Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt in Belgium and Luxembourg and ICA and Coop in Sweden.
| Attack | Date | Scope | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| France supermarket attack | Oct. 11-12 | About 700 sites | 50°C, food spoiled, 15 fires |
| Europe-wide freezer attack | Nov. 2 | Nine countries | Freezers hit at Ahold Delhaize, Colruyt, ICA, Coop |
Who Is Shahid Kaveh, the IRGC Cyber Unit Behind the Fridge Attacks?
The joint report by French intelligence and cybersecurity agencies identified Shahid Kaveh as the cyber offensive unit behind the campaign. The unit is tied to the Revolutionary Guard and worked through front groups, including CyberAveng3rs and the Cyber Isnaad Front. French officials linked the unit to the attacks through the digital infrastructure used, including Persian-language traces and internet addresses pointing to devices in Iran.
The report named three alleged associates: Hamid Reza Lashgarian, head of the Guard's Cyber-Electronic Command cyberattacks branch, and Mahdi Lashgarian and Reza Salarvand, who lead Shahid Kaveh. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said her office had opened a judicial investigation and requested international arrest warrants for the unit's leader and his two deputies.
What Sanctions Could France and the EU Impose on Iran Next?
Barrot said Iran's ambassador had been summoned and warned of consequences for Iran. France is pushing for EU-level sanctions over what Barrot called an attack of unprecedented scale and aggressiveness. The move adds to Western pressure on Tehran: Canada reimposed sanctions on 11 Iranian entities on Monday, including the National Iranian Oil Company and Bank Melli.
The attacks landed as diplomacy around Iran continued. Oil prices fell sharply on Monday as hopes of restraint grew, while the United States held mediation talks with Qatar's prime minister over a ceasefire. Barrot described the fridge attacks as the first large-scale cyberattack aimed at sabotage on French national territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many supermarkets were hit in the France fridge cyberattack?
About 700 sites across France were targeted on Oct. 11 and 12, including supermarkets, French intelligence and cybersecurity agencies said.
Did the supermarket fridge cyberattack cause any fires?
Yes. At least 15 fires broke out after hackers raised refrigeration temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius, and large quantities of food spoiled.
Who is Shahid Kaveh and what is its link to Iran's Revolutionary Guard?
Shahid Kaveh is a cyber offensive unit tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, French agencies said. The unit is better known as CyberAveng3rs and worked through front groups posing as vigilantes.
What sanctions is France seeking against Iran over the cyberattack?
France is pressing for EU-level sanctions and has summoned Iran's ambassador. Paris prosecutors have requested international arrest warrants for the head of the Shahid Kaveh unit and his two deputies.
Iran's UN mission did not respond to messages seeking comment, and Iran routinely denies carrying out malicious cyber operations. The Paris prosecutor's investigation continues, and the push for European Union sanctions will proceed in the coming weeks.
