Araghchi mocks Paris claim that Iran hacked 700 French stores

Iran rejected France’s accusations that it carried out a cyberattack on the cooling systems of around 700 stores. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the French government, “unable to manage refrigerators,” was blaming others, while French prosecutors sought international arrest warrants for three Iranians.

Iran sharply rejected French accusations that it was behind a cyberattack targeting the cooling systems of around 700 French stores in October. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, as reported by Radio France Internationale (RFI), that the French government, “unable to manage refrigerators, let alone address the grievances of its people, blames others for its failures.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on November 10 that it “categorically rejects” what it described as “false and malicious” accusations, accusing Paris of trying to divert attention from its policies in the Middle East. It added that Iran would take whatever measures it deemed necessary to protect its interests and national security.

Press conference hall at Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Arrest warrants sought for three Iranians

Meanwhile, the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office requested international arrest warrants for three men it says lead the “Shahid Kaveh” cyber unit, which the French Foreign Ministry links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They are Hamid Reza Lashkarian, Mehdi Lashkarian and Reza Salarvand. French authorities say the first Lashkarian heads the IRGC’s electronic and cyber center.

According to investigators, the attackers changed the defrost settings on refrigeration units during the night of October 11–12, raising temperatures, spoiling large quantities of food and causing at least 15 fires. The evidence cited by prosecutors includes Persian-language traces in the attack infrastructure and internet addresses linked to devices inside Iran.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot

Paris summons ambassador and signals sanctions

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the operation as “unprecedented in its scale and level of aggressiveness.” Paris summoned the Iranian ambassador and announced that it would propose new European sanctions against the individuals and entities involved. Barrot said France “does not rule anything out” to deter further attacks, including measures that may not be made public.

Relations between the two countries have been tense for years because of Iran’s nuclear program and the detention of French nationals. Tensions worsened again this summer after Iran arrested and expelled two French diplomats, prompting Paris to expel Iranian diplomats in response.

Images: Reuters, Anadolu

Araghchi mocks Paris claim that Iran hacked 700 French stores