Iran warns France against Israeli ‘false flag’ over supermarket cyberattack

Iran has warned France against falling for an "Israeli false flag" operation after Paris accused an Iranian cyber unit of attacking refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets across the country. The alleged cyberattacks, which took place on October 11-12, 2026, caused fires, damage, and the loss of food worth tens of millions of euros at over 700 retail outlets.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Hossein Mohebbi dismissed the French allegations as "ridiculous" and accused Israel of attempting to turn European countries against Tehran. He emphasized that unlike the United States and Israel, the IRGC does not target civilians. In response, France has summoned Iran's ambassador and threatened new sanctions against individuals and entities within the European Union.

Iran has steadfastly denied the allegations and vowed to take measures to protect its national interests and security against any foreign aggression. The dispute has emerged amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claimed it had recently attacked a US radar site in Bahrain with six drones, a claim rejected by US Central Command, which reported no injuries or damage from two Iranian attack drones that reportedly attempted to enter Bahrain's airspace.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has further deteriorated, with Iran reporting that oil tankers have struck naval mines and caught fire while attempting to traverse the waterway. The IRGC Navy has warned shipping companies against navigating the strait without coordinating with its maritime traffic control center.