Australia says it will expel Iran's ambassador after alleging the country's government directed antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that these attacks were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation. No injuries were reported from incidents last year.
The chief of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, indicated that intelligence points to Iran likely being behind additional attacks on Jewish targets in Australia.
Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other Iranian officials have been ordered to vacate Australia within a week, while Iran has yet to comment on these serious allegations.
Burgess clarified that Iran had attempted to disguise its involvement but ASIO believes it was responsible for the attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney on October 20 last year, and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 6.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted this as the first expulsion of an ambassador in Australia since World War II. She mentioned that while diplomatic channels with Tehran will be preserved, operations at the Embassy in Iran have been suspended to ensure the safety of individuals. Wong further advised Australians against traveling to Iran and encouraged those there to leave if safe.
Furthermore, Albanese's government aims to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
