Albania Expels Iranian Ambassador and Diplomat for Security Reasons

Reports indicate that Albania has expelled the Iranian ambassador and one Iranian diplomat on suspicion of illegal activities that threaten national security. John Bolton, the National Security Advisor to the White House, tweeted: "Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, has now expelled the Iranian ambassador; this action carries a message for Iranian leaders that their support for terrorism will not be tolerated." Bolton added: "We stand with Prime Minister Rama and the people of Albania as they confront Iran's reckless behavior in Europe and around the world." In this context, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, thanked the Prime Minister of Albania for the expulsion of the two Iranian diplomats on Twitter. Pompeo emphasized that the world must unite to sanction Iran until this regime changes its destructive behavior. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Albanian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday, December 19, that the two diplomats were expelled for "violating their diplomatic status." He added that this decision was made after consultations with other countries, including Israel. The spokesperson did not disclose the names of the expelled diplomats. Gholamhossein Mohammadiya, the Iranian ambassador to Albania, was appointed to this position in September 2016. Mohammadiya was a member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team with six world powers. Additionally, a private television network in Albania reported that the diplomats in question are suspected of illegal activities related to a World Cup qualifying match between Albania and Israel two years ago. Approximately twenty individuals were arrested following this match, which was threatened by a potentially terrorist attack. Albanian officials have not confirmed the report from this television network. Albania is home to over two thousand members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization, who were relocated to the country after their camps in Iraq were closed. In recent months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been involved in diplomatic tensions with various European countries over allegations of its agents' involvement in bombings and assassination attempts against its opponents. France and Denmark claim to have thwarted plots by Iranian diplomatic and security agents to attack opponents of the Islamic Republic. In this context, Germany arrested an Iranian diplomat stationed in Austria named "Asadollah Asadi" in Bavaria, accusing him of providing explosives to a couple for an attack on a Mujahedin-e Khalq rally on July 9 in the suburbs of Paris. This diplomat has been extradited to Belgium. France, on October 1, blocked assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens in response to a "plot to attack" this rally and also expelled an Iranian diplomat in early November. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reacted to these accusations, stating that any "terrorist act" by the Islamic Republic is condemned, adding: "Given the existing documents and evidence, the role of adversaries, ill-wishers, and known destructive agents in designing this ridiculous show is clear." On the other hand, Iranian security agencies have been accused of being behind assassination attempts against a political dissident in the Netherlands and a member of the "Ahvaz Movement" in Denmark. Denmark strongly protested to Iran and recalled its ambassador from Tehran. The Netherlands also expelled two Iranian diplomats. In this context, France expelled an Iranian diplomat in connection with an "unsuccessful bombing plot". Iran was accused of preparing an attack; Denmark recalled its ambassador from Tehran, and five Scandinavian countries expressed serious concern over the "assassination" plot by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. The European Union supported France's action in sanctioning assets belonging to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.