France accuses Iran's IRGC of coordinating cyberattacks on refrigeration network

France's cybersecurity authorities have formally blamed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for orchestrating cyberattacks against around 700 refrigeration sites across the country. The coordinated assault represents one of the more extensive targeting of critical infrastructure by a state actor in recent months, raising alarm among European policymakers about the vulnerability of essential services to foreign cyber threats.

The refrigeration sector is considered part of France's critical infrastructure, with facilities supplying food storage and distribution networks essential to the country's supply chain. Cyberattacks on such infrastructure could potentially disrupt food storage capabilities and threaten public health, making the campaign a matter of national security concern.

French officials said the campaign bore hallmarks consistent with IRGC cyber operations, including specific tactics, techniques, and procedures previously attributed to Iranian state actors. The attribution comes as European nations increasingly coordinate responses to cyber threats emanating from Iran, which has expanded its digital capabilities over the past decade.

The incident highlights the escalating sophistication of state-sponsored cyber operations targeting infrastructure beyond traditional military or government systems. Cybersecurity experts have warned that critical infrastructure sectors across South Asia and beyond face similar vulnerabilities to coordinated campaigns by well-resourced state actors seeking to achieve political or strategic objectives through digital means.