Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador and suspended diplomatic relations with Tehran after accusing the Iranian government of directing two antisemitic attacks on its soil.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move on Tuesday, citing findings by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) that linked Tehran to arson attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher food company in Sydney in October 2024, and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.
“ASIO has now gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion,” Albanese told reporters. “The Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks. Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks.”
The prime minister described the incidents as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” saying they were aimed at undermining social cohesion and “sowing discord in our community.”
Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, was formally informed of his expulsion shortly before the announcement. Australia has also withdrawn its diplomats from Tehran, relocating them to a third country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs issued an updated advisory urging Australians in Iran to leave “as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so.” The travel warning was raised to its highest level: “Do not travel.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that limited diplomatic channels would remain in place to safeguard Australia’s interests, but stressed the gravity of the decision, noting it was the first time since World War II that Canberra had expelled a foreign ambassador.
Authorities have arrested one suspect over the Sydney attack and two others linked to the Melbourne synagogue fire. Intelligence officials have previously warned that foreign governments were likely recruiting local criminals-for-hire to carry out such operations.
Tehran has not yet responded to the allegations.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions and a rise in antisemitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.
