Australia Expels Iranian Diplomats, Accuses Iran of Instigating Recent Antisemitic Attacks

The Australian government has announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, attributing responsibility for at least two antisemitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne to the Islamic Republic. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed to journalists that Australia’s principal domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, had acquired “sufficient credible intelligence” to arrive at a profoundly alarming judgment. 

Albanese mentioned, “The Iranian government orchestrated at least two of these incidents,” pointing to recent occurrences involving a Sydney restaurant and a Melbourne synagogue. “While Iran attempted to obscure its involvement, ASIO believes it orchestrated the attacks.” 

Before Albanese’s public disclosure, the Australian government notified Iran’s ambassador in Australia of the expulsion. Additionally, it has reassigned Australian diplomats from Iran to another location. 

Reports of antisemitic activity in both Melbourne and Sydney surged significantly following the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, which preceded Israel’s continued military action in Gaza. 

The prime minister also said Australia plans to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

A member of the Jewish community recovers a Torah scroll from the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 06, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

The move comes after Australia announced earlier this month that it plans to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. 

A general view of the Iranian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.  (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

The announcement triggered a scathing response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who accused Australia of betraying Israel. 

“History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu said.