Albania’s parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution declaring the Islamic Republic of Iran a sponsor of terrorism, in a move that underscores escalating tensions between the two countries following cyberattacks and geopolitical disputes.
The resolution passed with 79 votes in favour, one abstention and no votes against. Opposition lawmakers were absent from the session, having announced a day earlier that they would boycott the vote.
Opposition representatives argued that the session had been convened without a formally approved agenda, describing it as a “personal agenda of Prime Minister Edi Rama.”
The resolution accuses Iranian authorities of involvement in financing, training, arming, and directing non-state armed groups designated as terrorist organisations in various regions.
It further states that Iran, through its state institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has supported and coordinated activities that destabilise countries in the Middle East and beyond.
Albania also cited its own experience, referring to a major cyberattack on state institutions in 2022 that Tirana attributed to Iranian-linked actors, as well as what it described as recent attempts to target parliamentary systems.
The document condemns acts of violence and aggression, including cyberattacks against state institutions and critical infrastructure, as violations of international law and potential forms of terrorism.
It highlights concerns over the use of proxy armed groups and hybrid tactics to spread fear and instability, calling such actions incompatible with peaceful international relations.
As a NATO member and European Union candidate country, Albania reaffirmed that its foreign and security policy is rooted in democratic solidarity, the rule of law, and the protection of international peace and stability.
The parliament formally declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism and a state that uses terrorist methods to pursue its foreign policy objectives.
The resolution also condemns the activities of the IRGC and affiliated entities, calling on the Albanian government to strengthen national and international measures against state-sponsored terrorism and cyber threats.
Lawmakers urged closer cooperation with allied countries to combat terrorism financing and activities linked to Iranian state structures, and called for support of international initiatives aimed at accountability for terrorism, cyberattacks, and violations of international law.
The government was also called upon to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation and to classify Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy terrorist group, aligning with positions already adopted by the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and several EU member states.
The resolution further calls on democratic countries and international organisations to consider coordinated measures against state-sponsored terrorism and to enhance global cooperation in addressing such threats.
Albania reaffirmed its commitment to international peace, democratic values, and the protection of civilians from acts of terror, and said the resolution would be forwarded to allied governments, the United Nations, the European Union, and other relevant international partners.