Iran Slams Albania’s Expulsion of Diplomats in ‘US-Israeli-Hatched’ Plot
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned Albania’s “unjustifiable” move to expel two Iranian diplomats as a foreign scenario made under pressure from the US and the Israeli regime.
In a statement on Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi deplored the Albanian government’s decision to expel two Iranian diplomats.
“Such a move and scenario has been implemented under pressure from the US government and the Zionist regime’s security service and in collaboration with some anti-Iran terrorist groups,” he said.
Qassemi added that the Iranian diplomats have been expelled from Albania on the basis of “bogus and wrong allegations” that are aimed at “harming and influencing the relations between Iran and Europe.”
Albania’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the Iranian diplomats have been expelled for “damaging its national security.”
The Iranian spokesman argued that Albania’s move “has no justification or logical grounds and has been totally made on the basis of fabricated and wrong information provided by certain security services.”
“This is a condemned and unacceptable move,” Qassemi stressed, adding that Albania, which has always had good relations with Iran, has become a victim of the evil plots by those making up scenarios against Iran.
He said the “ill-advised” step that has been imposed on Albania is a new episode in the attempts to damage and disrupt Iran’s foreign relations, particularly with Europe, and to foment Iranophobia favored by Americans and Zionists.
Qassemi also decried the “childish, amateurish and hasty” stances by American officials on the expulsion of the Iranian diplomats and the “stupid joy” expressed by certain US authorities, including State Secretary Mike Pompeo, that reveal the role of “non-professional and paid terrorist groups” behind the development.
“We have seen in recent months that as the cooperation between Iran and Europe for nullifying the US unilateral and illegal sanctions (against Tehran) have become more serious, more scenarios have been created to damage Iran-Europe ties,” the spokesperson said, stressing that such hostile plots are doomed to failure in light of vigilance and prudence of the two sides.
After Albania’s announcement that it has expelled two Iranian diplomats, US president’s national-security adviser, John Bolton, said, "We stand with PM Rama and the Albanian people as they stand up to Iran's reckless behavior in Europe and across the globe.”
Pompeo described the diplomats as “two Iranian agents who plotted terrorist attacks in Albania."
