TIRANA, Dec. 20 – On Wednesday evening, local media reported Albania declared the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and one more diplomat as persona non-gratae, under suspicion they are involved in activities that jeopardize the country’s security.
The news that Albania, maybe the only country to do so, expelled the Iranian diplomats was confirmed by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Further on, it was reported the decision was made in consultation with allied countries, due to their activity in Albania, which stood in violation with their diplomatic status.
Following Albania’s decision, US President Donald Trump addressed Prime Minister Edi Rama with a letter which was published by the country’s MEFA.
In the letter, Trump thanked Rama and expressed anticipation in growing the partnership between the two traditionally allied countries.
“The leadership you have shown by expelling Iran’s Ambassador to your country exemplifies our joint efforts to show the Iranian government that its terrorist activities in Europe and around the world will have severe consequences,” Trump wrote.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton also reacted on Twitter on the government’s decision.
“Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania just expelled the Iranian ambassador, signaling to Iran’s leaders that their support for terrorism will not be tolerated. We stand with PM Rama and the Albanian people as they stand up to Iran’s reckless behavior in Europe and across the globe,” Bolton wrote on Twitter.
The decision to announce the two Iranian diplomats as persona non-grata is thought to be related with alarming violations of their diplomatic status and suspicious activity related to violent extremism.
Another reaction also came from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who emphasized in his tweet the sanctions placed on Iran.
“I comment PM Edi Rama’s expulsion of two Iranian agents who plotted terrorist attacks in Albania. European nations have thwarted three Iranian plots this year alone. The world must stand together to sanction Iran’s regime until it changes its destructive behavior,” Pompeo wrote.
It is worth noting that Albania under Rama’s governance became host of almost all 3,000 members of an Iranian opposition group known as Mujahedin e Khalq (MEK) as part of United States efforts to find them new homes outside of Iran.
Relations between Albania and Iran in the past few years have been strained by Albania’s willingness to accept providing shelter to MEK, which had been on the list of terrorist organizations for several years in the United States as well.
Meanwhile, independent experts have raised serious question marks on MEK members presence in Albania, even more than the concerns already raised by their presence here as an ex-terrorist group that is still considered terrorist in many parts of the world.
According to earlier statements by MEK members, their stay in Albania will stretch until the end of Iran’s dictatorship, however experts have not excluded the possibility that MEK members may be building a base against Iran, during their stay in Albania.
Reaction from Teheran
A swift reaction came from Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi, who described Tirana’s move as “unacceptable.”
‘Such a measure and scenario run under pressure of the US government and the Zionist intelligence service and in cooperation with certain anti-Iranian terrorist groups under the vain and wrong claims of compilation, aiming to sever and influence Iran-Europe ties,’ said Qasemi.
Qasemi further called Albania, “which has always had good ties with Iran,” “a victim” of anti-Iranian agents’ “dirty plans.”
“We consider such an unwise move, imposed on the country, being aimed at harming and disrupting Iran’s diplomatic relations, especially with Europe, while aiming to annoy Iran and cause Iranophobia – This line has always been followed by Americans and Zionists.’”
