Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador after accusing Tehran of being behind two anti-Jewish attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The decision is being seen as one of the strongest diplomatic actions taken by Canberra in many decades.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attacks, carried out in October and December last year, were designed to harm Australia’s social unity. One attack targeted the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on October 10, while the second hit the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6. The prime minister called the incidents completely unacceptable and promised strong action to protect Australians.
As part of the measures, the Australian government will also move to officially declare Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organisation.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other diplomats have been told to leave Australia within seven days. She noted this is the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled an ambassador. The government has also closed its embassy in Tehran, moving staff to a third country for safety reasons.
Wong stressed that while channels of communication with Tehran will remain limited, Australia’s top priority is security and national interest. She urged Australians currently in Iran to return home as soon as possible and advised others not to travel there due to the risks.
This decision marks a historic step in Australian diplomacy, underlining how seriously the government views foreign interference and threats to social harmony.
