Iranian diplomats 'burn embassy documents in Albania'; police search building
Reuters reports that Iranian diplomats burned embassy documents before leaving Albania in the early hours of Thursday morning, September 8, after Albania severed diplomatic relations with Iran and accused the Islamic Republic of cyberattacks in July.
A witness at the scene told Reuters he saw a man inside the embassy throwing papers into a rusty barrel, setting flames alight on the walls of the three-story embassy.
Albanian anti-terrorism police searched the embassy building hours after Iranian diplomats burned documents inside.
A Reuters reporter reported that police wearing masks, helmets and machine guns entered the Iranian embassy, which is located 200 meters from the Albanian prime minister's office, after two cars with diplomatic plates left. According to the report, police were still inside the building 30 minutes later.
The last two vehicles that left the Iranian embassy in Tirana around noon Thursday had 10 passengers, according to the Associated Press. Government sources have so far declined to say where the passengers were headed, but local media reports said some were headed to Tirana International Airport and others may have headed to North Macedonia.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said in a rare video address on Wednesday that he had ordered Iranian diplomats and staff to close their embassy and leave the country within 24 hours.
The Albanian Prime Minister, while announcing the severance of diplomatic relations with Iran, said: "This strong reaction... is fully proportionate to the severity and danger of the cyberattack, which threatened to paralyze public services, wipe out digital systems and hack government records, steal internal government electronic communications, and create chaos and insecurity in the country."
An American cybersecurity firm said on August 4 that cyberattacks in late July that temporarily disrupted the internet systems of several Albanian government institutions were most likely carried out by hackers affiliated with the Iranian government and aimed at disrupting the holding of a gathering of the People's Mojahedin (MEK) in the country.
The United States and Britain have also strongly condemned Iran's cyberattacks on Albania, and the White House has warned that Tehran will face consequences.
In this regard, the White House has even spoken about the possibility of deciding to use Article 5 of the NATO treaty against Iran.
Article 5 of the NATO founding treaty states that an attack on one or more NATO member states is considered an attack against them all.
The use of this article is likely because Albania has been a NATO member since 2009.
In response to these developments, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani warned on Thursday against "any political adventurism... under these ridiculous pretexts," and said that the Islamic Republic was fully prepared "to deal decisively, immediately, and regrettably with any possible conspiracy."
Another hacking group "possibly linked to Iran" identified
Researchers at internet security firm Mandiant say they have identified a group they say is likely conducting cyber espionage under the auspices of the Iranian government.
In a report published Wednesday, researchers at Mandiant say the group, dubbed APT 42, has been conducting intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations since at least 2015.
According to the report, the group targets opponents of the Iranian regime, including think tanks, researchers, current and former government officials, journalists, and members of the Iranian diaspora community.
Mandiant has confirmed at least 30 such operations to date, although researchers say the actual number of attacks carried out is likely much higher.
Source: Radio Farda
