Iran warns France against Israeli 'false flag' over cyberattack claims

Iran's Revolutionary Guard cautioned France on Saturday against being misled by a Israel into taking action over cyberattack allegations, Anadolu Agency reported.

The warning came after France accused an Iranian cyber unit of attacking supermarket refrigeration systems, which Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi dismissed as "ridiculous".

Mohebbi claimed Israel was behind the allegations to fuel hostility toward Iran and gain European support.

He also stated that unlike the US and Israel, the Revolutionary Guard does not target civilians.

The French government had attributed the cyberattacks to Shahid Kaveh, a unit affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard's electronic warfare and cyber defense organization, on Monday.

The attacks, which occurred overnight on October 11-12, targeted refrigeration control systems at over 700 retail locations, causing extensive damage and losses worth tens of millions of euros.

France planned to summon Iran's ambassador and seek additional European sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities allegedly involved.

Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations as baseless on Tuesday and vowed to protect its national interests and security.

Background

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and European countries, particularly France, over cybersecurity and alleged hostile activities.

Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in cyberattacks and accused Israel of trying to tarnish its reputation.