Australia Expels Iranian Diplomats Over Antisemitic Attacks
The Australian government has expelled two Iranian diplomats following allegations that the Islamic Republic was behind at least two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the country’s main domestic spy agency, ASIO, had gathered credible intelligence pointing to Iran’s involvement in the attacks.
The attacks in question targeted a Sydney restaurant and a Melbourne synagogue. Albanese claimed that Iran had attempted to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses that the country was indeed behind the attacks. The Australian government informed Iran’s ambassador to Australia of the decision to expel the diplomats shortly before Albanese’s announcement.
The move comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in Melbourne and Sydney following the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel that triggered Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza. In response to the situation, the Australian government plans to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The decision to expel the Iranian diplomats also coincides with Australia’s plan to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This announcement was met with a scathing response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Australia of betraying Israel and abandoning its Jewish community.
