France blames Iran for cyberattacks on supermarket fridges

The French government has said Iran was behind the 'unprecedented' series of cyberattacks on refrigerators in several major supermarket chains in France.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters on Monday at a G7 meeting in Paris.

Barrot said that, thanks to the outstanding work of government departments, he was able to confirm that responsibility for the attack lies with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. He said sanctions would be imposed at European level against those responsible.

Barrot said 700 food distribution sites in France were affected by the cyberattack.

French prosecutors said shortly afterwards that they were opening an investigation into the hacks.

Although Barrot was speaking only about the incidents reported in France, grocery stores across Europe and even French blood banks have been targeted by hackers in recent days.

Cyber experts had previously raised concerns that the attacks may have been part of Russia's ongoing hybrid warfare against Europe, though the Kremlin has denied any involvement.

The French government said the process of imposing sanctions at European level against those responsible would go ahead, while prosecutors continue their investigation into the attacks.