Iranian diplomats burn documents hours before leaving Albania

Albania on September 7th suspended diplomatic reports with Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of standing behind a cyber attack that took place in July.

During a video education Wednesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama ordered diplomats and staff to close the embassy and leave the state within 24 hours.

This is the first time a NATO member state officially blames Iran for organising a cyberattack and takes such measures.

Rama said the July cyber attack has threatened paralysing public services, erasing digital systems, as well as robbing data and electronic communications from government systems.

This attack also affected the platform of online e-Albana services, through which citizens are equipped with most documents.

A witness told Reuters he saw a person inside the embassy throwing letters in a fire tank.

Washington, Tirana's close ally, has also blamed Iran for the attack and has promised it will take “steps to ensure Iran is held responsible for actions that threaten Albania's”.

Tehran has condemned Tirana's decision to cut diplomatic reports, saying that on this issue, Albania made a decision “on groundless claims”.

In Albania, near the city of Durres, about 3,000 members of Iran's Mexhahedin People's Organisation (MEK) are sheltered from 2016, following a request issued by the United States. Iranian officials consider members of this group terrorists. / REL/