NATO ‘in no position’ to accuse Iran of cyber-attack: Embassy

Iran’s embassy in Brussels has condemned a recent anti-Iranian statement issued by NATO, saying the Western military alliance is in no position to accuse Tehran given its support for those who have waged cyber-attacks against the Islamic Republic in the past.

In a Friday statement a copy of which was published on its Twitter account, the Iranian diplomatic mission "categorically" rejected the "baseless accusations."

"NATO and its Members not only kept silent on cyber-attacks against Iran's infrastructural and nuclear facilities but also directly or indirectly had aided and abetted these acts of cyber sabotage," said the mission. "They have no standing to level such accusations against Iran."

"As a target country and victim of cyber-attacks on its critical infrastructure by NATO allies and partners, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejects and condemns any use of cyber space for attacking other countries," read the statement.

The diplomatic mission condemned NATO and its allies for becoming a "safe haven" for the anti-Iranian terrorist organization MKO. "NATO and its allies, claiming to fight international terrorism, have turned a blind eye on the fact that a terrorist cult has found a safe haven in NATO member countries, turning them into operational headquarters to launch the widest imaginable spectrum of malicious acts against Iran."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on NATO member countries to match words by deeds, and refrain from harboring or supporting terrorist groups in their territories."

Later on Friday, Washington imposed sanctions on Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and its minister, accusing them of being engaged in the July cyber-attack

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kana'ani had slammed Tirana's decision to cut ties with Tehran as “shortsighted.” He also termed allegations leveled against Tehran "baseless" and "unsubstantiated", blaming it on "third parties."

The spokesperson identified as "third parties" the United States, the Israeli regime, and the terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), which, he said, have propelled Tirana into taking such a decision.

SS