France said it would press European Union partners for sanctions after summoning Iran’s ambassador over October cyberattacks that disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets.
The French Foreign Ministry said the ambassador was called in Tuesday, a day after Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the move. French officials said Monday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were behind the attacks.
Barrot told France Info television that France’s cyberdefense doctrine gave authorities several options. Reuters reported that he warned Paris could respond with cyber measures. Barrot said France could take confidential steps it considered necessary and proportionate to deter further attacks and punish those responsible, calling the incident an “attack of unprecedented scale and aggression in our country.”
AFP reported that some stores discarded perishable food, with some losing their entire inventories. EconoTimes previously covered France’s attribution of the attacks.
Reuters also cited suspected digital sabotage earlier in the year, including a March cyber incident against Los Angeles public transit and another involving U.S. water treatment facilities in July. It linked the prolonged diplomatic strain between France and Iran to Tehran’s nuclear and missile development, regional conduct and the detention of French nationals.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment Monday. Tehran has regularly rejected allegations that it carries out harmful cyber activity, Reuters reported. France has not announced a date for its effort to secure EU sanctions.
