Police officers stands in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tirana, Albania, September 7, 2022. REUTERS/Florion Goga
TIRANA: Albania severed diplomatic relations with Iran on Wednesday and kicked out its diplomats after a cyberattack in July it blamed on the Islamic Republic, a move Washington supported as it vowed to take action in response to the attack on its NATO ally.
Albania ordered Iranian diplomats and embassy staff to leave within 24 hours.
"The government has decided with immediate effect to end diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Prime Minister Edi Rama said in a video statement.
"This extreme response ... is fully proportionate to the gravity and risk of the cyberattack that threatened to paralyse public services, erase digital systems and hack into state records, steal government intranet electronic communication and stir chaos and insecurity in the country," Rama said.
There was no immediate comment from the Iranian Embassy in Tirana.
