Australia Expels Iranian Ambassador Over Alleged Antisemitic Attacks in Sydney and Melbourne
Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, along with three other Iranian officials, citing Tehran’s alleged orchestration of antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. This marks the first time since World War II that Canberra has ejected a foreign envoy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incidents as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression,” pointing to intelligence linking Iran to two arson attacks: the December burning of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and the firebombing of a kosher restaurant in Sydney. While no one was injured, the attacks caused millions of dollars in damage.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the expulsion and announced the suspension of embassy operations in Tehran, with diplomats relocated to a third country for safety. The government also plans to formally designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess accused the IRGC of directing local criminals and organised crime members to carry out the attacks.
Israel’s embassy in Australia welcomed the move, while Daniel Aghian, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, condemned the attacks as a direct assault on Australia’s sovereignty and Jewish communities. Police investigations are ongoing, with arrests already made in connection to both incidents.
The diplomatic fallout comes amid heightened tensions in Australia over the Israel-Gaza conflict, following Canberra’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state, which has drawn criticism from pro-Israel groups.
