Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned “any use of cyber attacks against countries to strike at vital infrastructure”, noting that “Albania’s decision to cut off relations with us is an ill-considered step devoid of logic in international relations.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry pointed out that “the Albanian measure and the intervention of a third party are indicative of the influence of countries that support terrorism and incitement to sedition.”

Earlier in the day, the White House condemned the Iranian cyberattack on Albania, noting that “the United States will take additional steps to hold Iran accountable for actions that threaten the security of its ally.”

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced in a statement that “the Albanian cabinet has decided to immediately cut off diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Rama accused the Iranian side of organizing a large-scale cyber attack on the country this summer.

The Prime Minister of Albania, located in the Balkans, accused Iran of being behind a “massive cyberattack on the digital infrastructure of the Albanian government aimed at destroying it” on July 15. He stated that “an in-depth investigation has provided us with unequivocal evidence” that the attacks were “organized and sponsored” by Tehran.