Australia Expels Iranian Ambassador Over Anti-Semitic Attacks

The Australian government announced on Tuesday that it has expelled the Iranian ambassador, declared him persona non grata, and recalled its own ambassador from Tehran, temporarily suspending embassy operations there. The move comes after Australian authorities accused Iran of orchestrating anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said at a press conference that Australia had given the Iranian ambassador and three other Iranian diplomats seven days to leave the country.

“This is the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II,” reported the AFP.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australian intelligence had reached a “deeply concerning” conclusion that Iran was behind at least two deliberate anti-Semitic attacks.

“These attacks included an arson targeting the Louis Continental café, which serves kosher food for the Jewish community in Sydney’s Bondi suburb, in October 2024,” Albanese said. “Intelligence also shows that Iran was behind an arson at the Adas Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.” Thankfully, neither attack caused any injuries.

“These were exceptionally aggressive and dangerous acts carried out by a foreign state on Australian soil,” Albanese added. “They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow division in our community. This is completely unacceptable.”

The Prime Minister also suggested that Iran could be linked to other anti-Semitic attacks in Australia. As a result, the Iranian ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, and three diplomats were ordered to leave the country within seven days.

Australia has also withdrawn its ambassador from Tehran and suspended embassy operations in Iran.