Iran: Albanian 'baseless' claims 'ill-considered, short-sighted'
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The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemns the anti-Iran actions by the Albanian government and considers its decision to sever ties with Iran to be based on baseless allegations.
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The Iranian embassy in the Albanian capital, Tirana (Reuters)
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani rejected Wednesday the claims made by the Albanian government and described its decision to sever ties with Iran as unwise.
In a statement, Kanaani said that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Albania's decision to "sever political relations with our country based on such baseless claims to be an ill-considered and short-sighted action in international relations."
"As one of the countries that have been the target of cyber attacks on its critical infrastructure, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejects and condemns any use of cyberspace as a means to attack the infrastructure of other countries," Kanaani indicated.
The Iranian spokesperson said that third-party countries that support terrorism played a key role in Albania's decision to sever ties with Iran, pointing out that the US and Israeli occupation's immediate statements following the Albanian decision proved that there is a new plot and campaign against Tehran.
Kanaani also pointed to Albania's sheltering a terrorist group and expressed regret that Tirana was influenced by third parties in its inappropriate decisions.
Albania cut ties with Iran over "cyberattack"
Albania broke diplomatic ties with Iran on Wednesday over an alleged cyberattack against the government this summer, as Washington vowed to hold Tehran accountable for targeting its NATO ally.
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama on Wednesday accused Iran of directing an alleged cyberattack against Albanian institutions on July 15 in a bid to "paralyse public services and hack data and electronic communications from the government systems."
"The Council of Ministers has decided on the severance of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran with immediate effect," announced Rama.
The Prime Minister went on to say that Iranian diplomats and embassy staff had 24 hours to leave the country.
US vows to provide support to Albania
Following the announcement, Washington vowed to provide support to its ally in the Balkans.
"The United States strongly condemns Iran's cyberattack against our NATO ally, Albania," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
"The United States will take further action to hold Iran accountable for actions that threaten the security of a US ally and set a troubling precedent for cyberspace," Watson added.
Albania hosting MEK terrorist group
It is noteworthy that for years, Tirana has been hosting the People's Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK), which Iran considers a terrorist group.
Albania agreed in 2013 to take in members of the group at the request of Washington and the United Nations.
The MEK regularly hosts summits in Albania that have long attracted support from conservative US Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence who delivered a keynote address at an event in June.
Albania has expelled a string of Iranian diplomats from the Balkan country over the years, including Tehran's ambassador to the country in December 2018.
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