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Iranian ambassador expelled over ‘credible intelligence’ Iran directed antisemitic attacks on Australian soil Iranian ambassador expelled over ‘credible intelligence’ Iran directed antisemitic attacks on Australian soil
(about 2 hours later)
Australia’s spy agency finds Iran behind incidents including arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in MelbourneAustralia’s spy agency finds Iran behind incidents including arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne
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Iran directed at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community, the domestic spy agency has determined, prompting the Albanese government to expel Tehran’s ambassador to Canberra from Australia.Iran directed at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community, the domestic spy agency has determined, prompting the Albanese government to expel Tehran’s ambassador to Canberra from Australia.
The prime minister announced on Tuesday that the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (Asio) had “credible intelligence” to determine the Iranian government was behind the attacks against the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Bondi in Sydney. The prime minister announced on Tuesday that the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (Asio) had “credible intelligence” to determine the Iranian government was behind the attacks against the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis’s Continental Kitchen in Bondi in Sydney.
The Asio director-general, Mike Burgess, said the attacks had been ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC], working through a “layer cake of cut-outs” – paid intermediaries acting in Australia. The Asio director-general, Mike Burgess, said the attacks had been ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), working through a “layer cake of cut-outs” – paid intermediaries acting in Australia.
The IRCG will be listed as a terrorist organisation, with new laws set to be considered by federal parliament.The IRCG will be listed as a terrorist organisation, with new laws set to be considered by federal parliament.
Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, has been designated “persona non grata” by the Australian government and Australia’s embassy in Tehran will suspend operations. Iranian diplomats posted to Australia were not involved in the attacks, Burgess said. Iran’s ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, has been designated “persona non grata” by the Australian government and Australia’s embassy in Tehran will suspend operations. Iranian diplomats posted to Australia were not involved, Burgess said.
Australia’s diplomats posted to Iran were moved to a third country before the announcement was made. Six diplomatic staff posted to Iran were moved to a third country before the announcement was made.
“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” Albanese said.“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” Albanese said.
“They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. It is totally unacceptable, and the Australian government is taking strong and decisive action in response.” “They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. It is totally unacceptable.”
Burgess said his agency did not believe Iran was involved in every act of antisemitism in Australia but was investigating other incidents for possible Iranian government involvement. Albanese said told the lower house in question time on Tuesday that it was the “most serious response” any Australia government had given, adding “we don’t expel an ambassador lightly”.
Burgess said his agency was investigating other incidents for possible Iranian government involvement but did not believe Iran was involved in every act of antisemitism in Australia.
“It goes without saying that Iran’s actions are unacceptable. They put lives at risk, they terrified the community and they tore at our social fabric. Iran and its proxies lit the matches and fanned the flames,” he said. “It goes without saying that Iran’s actions are unacceptable. They put lives at risk, they terrified the community and they tore at our social fabric. Iran and its proxies lit the matches and fanned the flames,” he said.
“This was directed by the IRGC through a series of overseas cut-outs, facilitators, to coordinators that found their way to tasking Australians.” “This was directed by the IRGC through a series of overseas cut-outs, facilitators, to coordinators that found their way to tasking Australians.”
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Iran’s actions warranted the first removal of a foreign ambassador to Canberra since the post-war period.The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Iran’s actions warranted the first removal of a foreign ambassador to Canberra since the post-war period.
“That is why we have declared Iran’s ambassador to Australia persona non grata, as well as three other Iranian officials, and they will have seven days to leave the country,” Wong said.“That is why we have declared Iran’s ambassador to Australia persona non grata, as well as three other Iranian officials, and they will have seven days to leave the country,” Wong said.
“This is the first time in the post-war period that Australia has expelled an ambassador, and we have made this decision because Iran’s actions are completely unacceptable.” The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the Coalition was, in unison with the government, “disgusted to learn of the serious and chilling foreign interference which has been perpetrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Australian soil”.
“These acts of egregious foreign interference are brazen attempts to cleaver apart our social cohesion,” she said.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, said Iran’s actions were “deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable” and welcomed the federal government’s “decisive action”.
Changes to the federal criminal code will be required to list the IRGC as a terror group, because the current legal regime for official designation only considers non-state groups.
Guardian Australia has contacted the Iranian embassy in Canberra.
Israel’s embassy in Canberra welcomed the decision, saying it was warranted.
“This is a step we have long advocated for … A strong and important move,” a spokesperson said.
In January, the Australian Federal Police commissioner, Reece Kershaw, told political leaders police were investigating whether criminals were being paid by foreign agitators based in the Middle East to whip up antisemitic hatred in Australia.
The Adass Israel synagogue was set ablaze in December, an incident the prime minister immediately labelled as an act of antisemitism.
The synagogue incident was among the first in a months-long wave of attacks against Australia’s Jewish community. In January, federal police said they was probing whether the attacks could be linked by a group of paid actors, or “criminals for hire”, rather than ideologically motivated offenders.
Two men have been arrested in relation to the synagogue fire bombing. In July, the AFP deputy commissioner for national security, Krissy Barrett, said the investigation was not contained to Australia, and that the AFP was “working closely” with Five Eyes and international partners.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Albanese government’s decision to support a UN resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Gaza was to blame for the December synagogue attack.
“It is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia,” he wrote on X.