The Australian government is expelling two Iranian diplomats following intelligence that alleges Iran directed recent antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The action comes amid rising tensions with Israel over other foreign policy decisions.
ASIO Intelligence on Iran
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia’s domestic spy agency, ASIO, “gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion.” Albanese directly accused the Iranian government of orchestrating incidents at a Sydney restaurant and a Melbourne synagogue.
“The Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks,” the Prime Minister said. “Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks.“
Australia Expels Iranian Diplomats
In response to the intelligence findings, the Australian government informed Iran’s ambassador that two diplomats would be expelled from the country. Concurrently, Australian diplomats posted in Iran were withdrawn to a third country as a precautionary measure.
Australia Designates IRGC Terrorist Organization
The government also announced its plan to formally designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. This move follows a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in Melbourne and Sydney after the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel.
Anthony Albanese Benjamin Netanyahu Relations
These developments occur as Australia plans to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This plan drew a scathing response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu accused the Australian leader of betrayal, stating, “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.“
