UPDATE - Albania decides to cut diplomatic ties with Iran over 'intense cyber-attacks’: Cabinet

UPDATES WITH DETAILS; ADDS REMARKS BY ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER

By Busra Nur Cakmak and Fatjon Cuka

ANKARA/TIRAN (AA) - Albania decided to “terminate” diplomatic relations with Iran over “intense cyber-attacks,” the Albanian Council of Ministers said on Wednesday, according to local media.

“The Council of Ministers has decided with immediate effect the termination of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said a statement by the Cabinet, according to Albanian news site Politiko.

“This decision was made known with an official note to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was requested to leave the territory of the Republic of Albania within 24 hours of all diplomatic and technical-administrative personnel, including the security personnel,” it added.

In a video message released on his social media, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said their in-depth investigation provided "undeniable evidence that the cyber-aggression against his country was carried out and supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran."

“Last July 15, our country was the target of a massive cyber-attack aimed at destroying the digital infrastructure of the government of the Republic of Albania, paralyzing public services and stealing data and electronic contact information from government systems, said Rama, adding that the attack failed to achieve its purpose.

“Compared to what the attacker is aiming for, the damages can be considered minor. The systems were restored and nothing was irretrievably lost,” he said.

Rama said Iran has engaged four groups for the cyber-attack on Albania, including one of the most notorious groups of international cyber-terrorism, which has previously attacked Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and the Greek Cypriot administration.

“By informing our strategic partners, NATO partners and some friendly countries, we also shared the incontrovertible results of the investigation that proved the source of the aggression against our country,” said Rama.

He also said this extreme measure they took, which was not desirable but completely necessary, was in full proportion to the seriousness and danger of the cyber-attack, because this attack would paralyze public services in his country, wipe systems and government data, steal electronic communications within the government system, create distrust, and intend to incite chaos in his country.

Albanian authorities announced in July that the country had suffered a massive cyber-attack suspected of being synced and carried out from abroad.