Australia took the unusual step on Tuesday of expelling four Iranian diplomats and suspending the operations of its embassy in Tehran, a dramatic escalation that underscores mounting concern over foreign interference in domestic affairs.
The move follows months of investigation into a string of attacks on Jewish sites in Sydney and Melbourne, which Australian intelligence agencies now say were orchestrated by Iran.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a somber address, described the incidents as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.” He said the findings came after the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Federal Police collected what he called “credible intelligence” directly linking Tehran to the attacks.
The October 20 assault on Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a Jewish-owned restaurant in Sydney, and the December 6 attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne had initially been investigated as possible hate crimes. But according to ASIO’s assessment, both were directed from Iran, with the aim of sowing fear among Jewish Australians and straining the country’s delicate social fabric. Officials also believe Tehran may have had a hand in other incidents.
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Canberra responded by informing Iran’s ambassador that he and three colleagues would be expelled, while Australian diplomats stationed in Tehran have been relocated to a third country for their safety. The government is also preparing legislation that would allow it to formally designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation — a step that would align Australia more closely with allies such as the United States and Canada.
“Iran has sought to harm and terrify Jewish Australians, and to sow hatred and division in our community,” Mr. Albanese said. “Our actions send a clear message: Australia stands firmly against antisemitism and violence.”
The episode has sent shockwaves through Australia’s Jewish community, already grappling with a global surge in antisemitic incidents. More broadly, it signals a new willingness by Canberra to push back against covert foreign influence. As the prime minister warned, “Any nation that seeks to import its conflicts into Australia will face the consequences. Your aggression will not be tolerated.”