France accuses Iran of cyberattacks on food and medical cold chains

The French government has formally accused Iran of carrying out cyberattacks on thousands of industrial refrigerated and freezer units across France and Europe. The attacks, attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, targeted web-based controllers in grocery stores, supermarkets and blood banks. According to the French Blood Establishment, the attacks on medical blood banks were stopped before any blood was spoiled.

Security researchers warned that the affected controllers, some made by Danish firm Danfoss, are vulnerable to remote hacks and no longer receive security updates. The French government has summoned Iran’s ambassador and plans to issue European-wide sanctions against those responsible. The matter is now with the French justice system.

This incident follows a series of cyberattacks linked to pro-Iranian hacktivists targeting critical infrastructure in the US and Europe. The US is also investigating similar attacks on freezer units at military bases. The French foreign minister described the scale as unprecedented and a major assault on national interests.

Senior leaders in food, healthcare and supply chain sectors should assess the resilience of their operational technology and review vendor support for critical systems. The risk of similar attacks remains high as geopolitical tensions continue.