Brisbane, Australia
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Australia is banishing Iran’s ambassador to Canberra after discovering that Iran is behind at least two anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil.
Australia’s Security Intelligence Agency (ASIO) linked Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Security Force (IRGC). The two arson attacks last year targeted Jewish-owned restaurants in Sydney and the Adas Islamic Synagogue in Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference.
“These were amazing and dangerous acts of aggression organized by foreigners in Australian soil,” Albanese said.
Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadegi and three other diplomatic staff were given seven days to leave the country, Albanese said. This is the first time Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador since World War II.
Australia has also suspended operations at Iranian embassies for the safety of consul officials, urging Iranian Australians to leave the country.
Albanese said he believes that Iran’s IRGC (the elite wing of the Iranian army) has been contributing to the projecting of Iranian power by funding militias across the Middle East, opposing them from their homes. He is also listed as a terrorist. The US moved to declare a terrorist group in 2019.
“I’ve said many times that Australians want two things. They want the killings in the Middle East to stop. They don’t want conflict in the Middle East to come here. Iran is trying to do just that,” added Albanese.
“They tried to hurt and terrify Jewish Australians and soothe hatred and division in our community,” he said.
ASIO Director Mike Burgess said the anti-Semitic attacks in Australia were overseen by the IRGC and carried out by intermediary “layer cake.”
“This was overseen by the IRGC through a series of overseas cutout facilitators to coordinators who found a way to fall into Australia,” he said.
The two attacks linked to Iran by ASIO included an arson attack in October 2024 at Lewis’ Continental Kitchen near Bondi Beach, Sydney.
The second attack came against the Adas Isla El Synagogue in Melbourne last December. At that time, two masked assailants were seen throwing liquids into the premises.
Victoria’s counterterrorism investigators have charged two men with the adas synagogue attack. The most recent arrest was made last week. Police alleged that the three broke into the venue of worship and deliberately set fire to the fire.
Anti-Semitist attacks in Australia have skyrocketed since the start of Israel’s retaliation for the attacks across Hamas’ border on October 7, 2023.
“The ASIO is still investigating the possibility of Iran’s involvement in many other attacks. But I would like to emphasize that the administration is not responsible for any acts of Australia’s anti-Semitism,” Burgess said.
Australia’s Home Minister Tony Burke called Iran’s actions an “extraordinary attack” and reached “new, completely unacceptable low.”
“Australia was attacked and Australia was harmed,” Burke said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Australians to leave Iran, saying the government’s ability to protect them is “very limited.”
“I recommend Australians who may be considering a trip to Iran. Don’t. Our message is, if you are an Iranian Australian, leave now if it’s safe to do so,” she said.
There have been no official comments yet from the Iranian government, but Iranian media quickly condemned Canberra’s claims about the state’s involvement in the attack. Fars News Agency, a state affiliated with the state, said Australia had filed “unfounded allegations,” while the para-specialist Tasnim News Agency said the Iranian ambassador was being expelled under “false pretenses.”
The Iranian embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
This story has been updated with additional information
