Why did Iran reject France’s accusations over the supermarket refrigerator cyberattacks?

Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the accusations baseless and one-sided, and said France was projecting its own governance failures. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also blamed the French government for the incident.

What happened to French supermarket refrigerators in the October cyberattacks?

The attacks on October 11 and 12 raised temperatures in supermarket refrigerators and freezers. Many stores had to throw away entire inventories of perishable food.

What response did France and the European Union consider after the supermarket fridge cyberattacks?

France summoned Iran’s ambassador and sought European-level sanctions. Barrot said Paris would take measures it deemed proportionate and necessary to deter further attacks, while the EU said it would seek a swift, united response after discussions with member states.

Iran rejects France's 'baseless accusations' on cyberattack

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Summary

Iran on Tuesday rejected France’s accusations that it was responsible for cyberattacks on supermarket refrigerators in France last month, calling them baseless. The October 11 and 12 attacks raised refrigerator and freezer temperatures, forcing stores to discard perishable food, and similar incidents were reported in at least 11 other European countries in early November. France said it would consider measures including European-level sanctions, while the European Union said it would seek a swift, united response after discussions with member states.

Key Facts

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemned what it called France’s policy of making accusations against the Islamic Republic.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris would take measures it considered proportionate and necessary to deter further attacks, including measures it might not disclose publicly.
Iran said it would take necessary and appropriate measures to protect its national interests and security from what it described as unlawful foreign activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed the French government for the incident in a post on X.
The European Union said its response would follow discussions with member states.

By AFP

Published Nov 11, 2026 2:33 am KST

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (both not pictured) at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Oct. 27. AFP-Yonhap

TEHRAN — Iran on Tuesday said French accusations that it was responsible for cyberattacks on supermarket fridges last month were "baseless."

"Iran's foreign ministry categorically rejects the French government's baseless and one-sided accusations against Iran regarding alleged cyber activities in France," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that it "strongly condemns this hackneyed policy of levelling accusations against the Islamic republic."

Hundreds of French supermarkets were hit in the October 11 and 12 cyberattacks, which raised the temperatures in their refrigerators and freezers, forcing many to throw away entire inventories of perishable food.

Similar incidents were then reported in at least 11 other European countries in early November.

Along with summoning Iran's ambassador and seeking European-level sanctions, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday that Paris would "rule nothing out and will take all measures — including those we may not disclose publicly — that we deem proportionate and necessary to deter any further attacks."

Tehran meanwhile said it would "not hesitate to take necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard its national interests and security in the face of unlawful foreign activities."

It added that France "is merely projecting its own governance failures" with these accusations.

Later in the day, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed the French government for the incident.

"Unable to manage fridges let alone addressing grievances of its people, French government is shifting blame for its failures onto others," the top diplomat said on X.

Also on Tuesday, the European Union said it would look to provide a "swift and united response" pending discussion with member states after France's announcement.

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