Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has launched a defiant attack on what he cast as the Iranian government, accusing it of cyberterrorism against Albania, as his administration suspended a $4.7bn luxury resort led by US presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner pending environmental and corruption investigations, bne IntelliNews learned on June 9.

The clash links a domestic protest crisis to Albania's long-running feud with Tehran over its sheltering of Iranian dissidents, with the resort suspension now threatening the country's EU accession bid.

In a post on X, Rama said Albania would not abandon Iranians who had sought protection from intimidation, persecution or assassination, nor yield to cyberattacks he said had been traced to actors linked to the Iranian government.

"Regimes built on fear, censorship, repression and the crushing of dissent may endure for a time, but history is merciless," Rama said.

He said Albania had built a state-of-the-art cyber shield after a major assault, making it better prepared to confront continued attacks.

Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj told the European Commission that construction had been suspended while an environmental impact assessment was conducted, Politico reported. Construction permits had not been issued, and the anti-corruption body SPAK is investigating the project.

Large crowds have filled Tirana for a week in what has been dubbed the Flamingo Revolution, after the bird whose breeding ground on Sazan Island the development would encroach upon.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned the project was incompatible with EU accession criteria, putting Albania at risk of failing to close Chapter 27 on environment and climate.

Kushner's private equity firm Affinity Partners announced in 2024 it would develop a resort on Sazan Island and the Zvernec coastline near Vlora, with potential for up to 10,000 hotel rooms.

Rama, prime minister since 2013 and one of Europe's longest-serving heads of government, has said the investment will go ahead.