Albanian labels Iran as 'state sponsor of terrorism,' Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization
Albania had previously severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2022 after attributing a major cyberattack on government networks and public services to Tehran
The Albanian Parliament has officially designated Iran as a “state sponsor of terrorism” and classified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, signaling a sharp escalation in Tirana’s stance toward Tehran amid heightened US-Israeli military operations in the region.
“For Albania, this is not a distant geopolitical issue,” said Taulant Balla, stressing that the resolution condemns state-backed terrorism, the use of proxy groups to destabilize regions, and hybrid tactics, including cyberattacks targeting sovereign institutions.
Israel welcomed the move, with the office of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar highlighting “a clear moral dimension” to Albanian foreign policy. The decision follows a recent direct appeal from Sa’ar to his Albanian counterpart, Igli Hasani, urging closer alignment against Tehran.
Since the start of the offensive on Iran, Sa’ar has repeatedly called on the international community to cut ties with Tehran, which Israel accuses of sponsoring terrorism on both regional and global scales.
Albania had previously severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2022 after attributing a major cyberattack on government networks and public services to Tehran.