Australia Expels Iranian Envoy Over Antisemitic Attacks

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the expulsion of Iran’s Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three diplomats on Tuesday, citing credible intelligence from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) linking Iran to two antisemitic arson attacks. The attacks targeted Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher café in Sydney, in October 2024, and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.

Albanese described the acts as “extraordinary and dangerous” attempts by Iran to destabilize social cohesion in Australia. ASIO’s investigation revealed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrated the attacks, using proxies to mask its involvement. “The Iranian government directed these attacks, and their attempts to disguise their role have failed,” Albanese told reporters.

The government has withdrawn Australian diplomats from Tehran, relocating them to a third country for safety, and will introduce legislation to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, aligning with actions taken by the U.S. and Canada. The move comes amid a surge in antisemitic incidents in Australia since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in 2023.

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Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Australians in Iran to leave immediately due to limited consular support. Albanese condemned the attacks as “totally unacceptable,” emphasizing Australia’s resolve to counter foreign interference. The expulsion marks a rare diplomatic escalation, the first of its kind since World War II.

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