Australia expels Iranian ambassador over antisemitic attacks

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday accused Iran of directing antisemitic attacks in Australia and announced that Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has been expelled from the country.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Albanese said that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) has gathered credible evidence that Iran directed at least two antisemitic arson attacks against the Australian Jewish community in Sydney and Melbourne since October 2023.

"Iran has sought to disguise its involvement, but the ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks," Albanese said. He also noted that the Australian embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and all its diplomats are safe in a third country.

The Australian government will move to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, according to Albanese.

Australia has given the Iranian ambassador and three other officials seven days to leave the country – the first such expulsion of an ambassador since World War II, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a news conference.

(With input from agencies)