Iran decries Albania’s move to snap diplomatic ties
TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iran has criticised Albania’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Tehran as “ill-considered” and “short-sighted”, denying involvement in a July cyberattack targeting the European country.
In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani termed the Albanian government’s move as “short-sighted in international relations.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Tirana decided to snap diplomatic ties with Iran and ordered Iranian diplomats and embassy staff to leave the country within 24 hours.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the decision to sever ties “with immediate effect” was taken after an investigation into an alleged cyberattack in July, blaming it on Iran.
The major cyberattack on July 15 brought many Albanian government websites to a grinding halt. Rama called it “state aggression” and said an investigation found that the attack was “orchestrated and sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran” with involvement of “four groups.”
The US also blamed Iran for the July 15 cyberattack and hacking operations against Albania.
Kanaani, however, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” saying Tehran has “principled positions” in the area of cyberspace, and the country has itself been a “target” of cyberattacks.
He went on to attribute the allegations leveled by the Albanian authorities against Iran to “third parties” in an oblique reference to the US and Israel.
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