Australia announced the expulsion of Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other diplomatic officials after the country’s intelligence agency found that Iran was behind at least two anti -Semitic attacks on Australian soil.
The measure was announced by the Australian Prime Minister, at a press conference. Iran’s employees received seven grades to leave the country. This is the first time she expels her a foreign ambassador since World War II.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (Asio) linked the body of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) to two incendiary attacks last year, targeting a Jewish -owned restaurant in Sydney and the Synagoga ADASS Israel in Melbourne, Albanese said at a press conference.
“These were acts of extraordinary aggression and dangerous orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” the prime minister said.
Australia also suspended operations at its Iran’s embassy for the safety of its consular employees, and the Australians in Iran were urged to leave the country.
Albanese stated that Iran’s IRGC – an elite wing of the Iranian Armed Forces considered instrumental to suppress internal dissent and project the power of Iran abroad, financing militias throughout the Middle East – would also be listed as a terrorist agency. The US took steps to declare it a terrorist group in 2019.
“I have often said that the Australian people want two things: they want the killing in the Middle East to stop and they don’t want the conflict in the Middle East to be brought here. Iran has sought to do just that,” Albanese added.
“They have sought to harm and terrorize Australian Jews and sow hatred and division in our community,” he added.
Asio Director-General Mike Burgess said the anti-Semitic attacks in Australia were commanded by the IRGC and executed by “a layer cake” of intermediaries.
“This was commanded by IRGC through a series of foreign facilitators and coordinators who found their way to assign tasks to Australians,” he said.
Iran’s two Asio attacks include a criminal fire in October 2024 at the Lewis’ Continental Kitchen restaurant near Bondi beach in Sydney, which served food Kosher (foods prepared according to Jewish food laws) for Sydney residents for over 50 years.
The second attack was at Synagogue ASSRAEL ADASS in Melbourne last December, when two masked attackers were seen throwing liquid in the scene before burning it.
Victoria anti -terrorism researchers indicted two men by attacking the ASSA Synagogue. The most recent arrest was made last week. Police claim that three individuals broke into the site and deliberately set it burned it.
Anti -Semitic attacks in Australia have increased from the beginning of Israel’s retaliation for Hamas Transfronhority Attack on October 7, 2023.
“Asio is still investigating the possible Iranian involvement in several other attacks. But I want to emphasize that we do not believe that the regime is responsible for all acts of anti -Semitism in Australia,” Burgess said.
Australian Interior Minister Tony Burke called Iran’s actions as an “extraordinary attack” that reached a “new and totally unacceptable level.”
“Australia was attacked and Australia has been harmed,” Burke said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong instructed Australians to leave Iran, as the government’s ability to protect them would be “extremely limited.”
“I ask any Australian who is considering traveling to Iran who, please do not do it. Our message is: If you are Australian in Iran, leave now, if you are safe,” she said.
Iran’s embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to the request for comment CNN.
