Albania moves to break off relations in response to an alleged cyberattack by Tehran, the nation’s PM says
Albania has severed diplomatic ties with Iran over an alleged cyberattack on the nation’s digital infrastructure, ordering all of Tehran’s diplomatic staff to leave within 24 hours, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Wednesday.
Rama stated in a video that “this extreme response is fully proportional to the gravity and risk of the cyberattack”This has recently threatened the public service and caused panic and instability in Balkan nation.
The prime minister continued to state that the attack on mid-July occurred “failed its purpose,”The damage was minimal. However, in his view, Tirana’s law enforcement agencies managed to “establish without the shadow of a doubt”Hacking was committed by the perpetrator.
“The in-depth investigation provided us with indisputable evidence that the cyberattack against our country was orchestrated and sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran,”Rama added that this was a coordinated effort by four groups. One of these had already launched similar attacks on Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that Washington also participated. “strongly condemns Iran’s cyberattack”Tirana is supported in their efforts to hold Tehran responsible.
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Additionally, she noted that US cybersecurity experts participated in hacking investigations and concluded it was Iran. “conducted this reckless and irresponsible cyberattack.”
Since a while tensions have been high between Iran, Albania and Iran. Tirana published a 2018 report citing US officials accusing Tehran of plotting. “terrorist attacks”Two Iranian diplomats were expelled from Iran by the Balkan nation, which included the ambassador. Iran denounced this decision at the time and said it was based upon “fabricated intelligence”Washington.
Albania was also home to the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization, an Iranian dissident group that Tehran accuses of killing more than 12,000 Iranian civilians since 1979 Islamic Revolution.
