The Albanian government announced on Wednesday morning that it has decided to freeze diplomatic relations with Iran, after reports that Iran was the entity behind the cyber-attack that rattled our country a few weeks ago.

Prime Minister Edi Rama requested that the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran leave our country within the next 24 hours.

Previous attacks by Iran that were prevented by the Albanian government:

The attack 4 years ago

This was not the first time that an attack organized by Iran was registered in Albania. In March 2018, an attack on the World’s Bektashii Headquarters on the day of Sultan Nevruz was prevented. Some people with Iranian citizenship disguised as journalists had organized a terrorist attack which was fortunately prevented.

On the day of the event, the Albanian anti-terrorist agency detained 2 Iranians who introduced themselves as journalists but were later released on the condition that they leave the Albanian territory immediately after. As a result of this event, 2 Iranian diplomats were expelled from Albania.

Cancellation of the “Free Iran World Summit” in Manza

The Free Iran World Summit scheduled to be held on July 23 and 24 at Camp Ashraf 3 in Manez, Durres this year, was postponed until further notice.

The decision came after recommendations of the Albanian government and the reaction of the American Embassy that a terrorist attack was being planned by Iran on that day.

MEK members have been in the attention of the Iranian regime, whose leaders have accused Albania of harboring terrorists.