Sydney, Aug 26: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday accused Iran of orchestrating antisemitic attacks in the country and announced the expulsion of Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi.
Speaking at a press conference, Albanese said the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) had obtained credible evidence that Iran directed at least two antisemitic attacks against Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel.
“Iran has sought to disguise its involvement, but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks,” Albanese said. “These were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community.”
The Prime Minister said Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran, with diplomats relocated safely to a third country. He also confirmed that the government will move to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the decision as unprecedented, noting it is the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled an ambassador. She advised Australians in Iran to leave if conditions allow. In addition to Sadeghi, three other Iranian officials were declared persona non grata and ordered to depart within seven days.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess revealed that the IRGC directed arson attacks on a Melbourne synagogue in December 2024 and a kosher restaurant in Sydney in October 2024. While the Iranian embassy staff were not directly involved, Burgess said the IRGC used organised crime networks and proxies to mask its role.
“The IRGC used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement,” he explained, adding that Iran was likely behind additional attempts to target Australia’s Jewish community.
