Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Tuesday that Canberra has given Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other Iranian officials seven days to leave the country. This marks the first time Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador since World War II, according to Wong.
Australia will also suspend operations at its embassy in Tehran. All Australian diplomats have already left Iran.
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Iranian Ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi. Photo: SBS News |
Iranian Ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi. Photo: SBS News
Wong also announced that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will be added to Australia's list of terrorist organizations. This legislation is currently pending.
The expulsion follows statements by the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, alleging that Tehran directed attacks against the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in 12/2024 and the Lewis Continental Kitchen, a restaurant popular with the Jewish community, in Sydney in 10/2024.
"They endanger lives, sow terror in the community, and damage our social fabric. Iran and its proxies have lit and fanned the flames," Burgess said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Iran must be held accountable for these "dangerous and outrageous acts of aggression" and attempts to "undermine Australia's cohesion".
Since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in 10/2023, homes, schools, synagogues, and vehicles in Australia have been targeted in acts of antisemitic vandalism and arson. The most recent incident occurred in July, when a man allegedly set fire to a Melbourne synagogue with people inside.
Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters, ABC News)
