France suspects Iran-backed hackers in cyberattacks, summons Tehran envoy

French authorities suspect Iranian-backed hackers initiated a series of cyberattacks in recent months, targeting commercial refrigeration and cooling systems across the country. According to two sources familiar with the investigation, the operation may rank among the most disruptive cyberattacks since the start of the Iran conflict in February.

The alleged attacks have mirrored other high-profile digital disruptions, including the Los Angeles transit system outage in March, assaults on U.S. water treatment facilities in July, and disturbances inflicted on ships destined for the United States in August.

Paris has taken decisive action, summoning Iran's ambassador and warning that the European Union will impose sanctions on Tehran in response to the alleged cyberattack. Protests in Paris have surged following the revelation that French prosecutors are investigating an Iranian national accused of hacking into commercial refrigeration units, with evidence pointing to a systematic attack executed by this individual.

The French foreign minister has publicly tied Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the cyberattack, accusing the group of orchestrating the disruption of refrigeration systems in France.