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Australia expelled Iran's ambassador and three other officials Tuesday after intelligence services linked Tehran to antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, prompting Iran to threaten reciprocal diplomatic action.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has seven days to leave the country following an investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) that connected Iran's government to attacks on Jewish targets.
Intelligence officials determined Iran directed an arson attack on Lewis Continental Kitchen, a cafe in Sydney, on Oct. 20, and another on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue on Dec. 6. The synagogue, built by Holocaust survivors in the 1960s, was attacked while worshippers were inside, forcing them to flee as flames engulfed the building.
ASIO chief Mike Burgess said Iran "sought to disguise its involvement" in both incidents by using intermediaries, including criminals and organized crime members as proxies.
"They're just using cut-outs, including people who are criminals and organised crime gangs to do their bidding or direct their bidding," Burgess told reporters.
"The accusation that has been made is absolutely rejected," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press conference. "Any inappropriate and unjustified action on a diplomatic level will have a reciprocal reaction."
Albanese characterized the attacks as "attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community," calling them "extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression." Intelligence services believe Iran likely orchestrated other antisemitic incidents across Australia as well.
The expulsion marks the first time Australia has removed an ambassador since World War II, according to Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Australia has also withdrawn its own diplomats from Tehran and suspended embassy operations there for staff safety.
Wong urged Australians to avoid travel to Iran and called for citizens currently in the country to leave if safe to do so.
The government will also designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, Albanese announced.
Australia has experienced a surge in antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish schools, homes, vehicles and synagogues since Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. Iran maintains close ties with Hamas. During the same period, civil society groups have also documented increased Islamophobic incidents.
Police first indicated in January that they were investigating whether overseas actors were directing attacks on Jewish-linked property.
Israel's embassy in Canberra praised Australia's actions, stating in a social media post that "Iran's regime is not only a threat to Jews or Israel, it endangers the entire free world, including Australia."
The diplomatic crisis comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel and Iran engaging in a 12-day conflict in June.
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