Australia has given Iran's ambassador seven days to leave the country after alleging that the country's government directed antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. Intelligence services linked Iran to an arson attack on a cafe in Sydney in October last year, and another on a synagogue in Melbourne in December, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a press conference on Tuesday. Albanese added the two incidents were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other officials have been ordered to leave Australia, which has withdrawn its own diplomats from Tehran. Iran has absolutely rejected the allegations.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman added the decision to expel their envoy was driven by Australia's domestic policies. However, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) chief Mike Burgess said his teams had uncovered links between the alleged crimes and commanders in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), following a painstaking, months-long investigation.
They're just using cut-outs, including people who are criminals and members of organised crime gangs to do their bidding, Mr Burgess told reporters. He added that the IRGC had used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement in the attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on 20 October, and Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue on 6 December.
Australia's intelligence services also found evidence suggesting Iran's involvement in other antisemitic incidents in Australia, which have surged since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, Iran's ally, and the consequent war in Gaza. Civil society group the Islamophobic Register noted a rise in Islamophobic incidents in the same timeframe.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that it was the first time since World War II that Australia had expelled an ambassador. The ambassador was found not to have any links to the attacks, Mr Burgess stressed, but Wong urged Australians not to travel to Iran, advising any citizens in the country to leave if safe. Albanese also announced plans to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, with Israel's embassy in Canberra welcoming the Australian government's actions.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman added the decision to expel their envoy was driven by Australia's domestic policies. However, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) chief Mike Burgess said his teams had uncovered links between the alleged crimes and commanders in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), following a painstaking, months-long investigation.
They're just using cut-outs, including people who are criminals and members of organised crime gangs to do their bidding, Mr Burgess told reporters. He added that the IRGC had used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement in the attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on 20 October, and Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue on 6 December.
Australia's intelligence services also found evidence suggesting Iran's involvement in other antisemitic incidents in Australia, which have surged since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, Iran's ally, and the consequent war in Gaza. Civil society group the Islamophobic Register noted a rise in Islamophobic incidents in the same timeframe.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that it was the first time since World War II that Australia had expelled an ambassador. The ambassador was found not to have any links to the attacks, Mr Burgess stressed, but Wong urged Australians not to travel to Iran, advising any citizens in the country to leave if safe. Albanese also announced plans to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, with Israel's embassy in Canberra welcoming the Australian government's actions.
