WarSclerotic

Iran is blaming the United States and Israel for Albania’s expulsion of two Iranian diplomats accused of engaging in criminal activities that threatened the small European country’s security.

Tirana on Thursday expelled Iran’s ambassador and another diplomat for “damaging its national security”, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry did not identify the two, and did not say when they were expelled or if they had left the NATO member country, but said it had consulted its alliance partners on the decision.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Thursday the move was made under pressure from Israel and the United States, which he said were working to destroy relations between Iran and European countries. Albania should not allow others to dictate its relations with Tehran, he said.

“I believe that this is a step aimed at harming Iran’s ties with Europe at such a sensitive time,” the state news agency IRNA quoted Qassemi as saying.

“Obviously this is a measure which has been taken under Israel and America’s pressure. We expect Albania to respect its own independence. … Albania has become an unintentional victim of the United States, Israel and some terrorist groups.”

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who played a major role in Trump’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran, backed Albania’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,” Bolton said in a Twitter post.

“We stand with PM Rama and the Albanian people as they stand up to Iran’s reckless behavior in Europe and across the globe,” he said.