Information
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and three other diplomats after Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) linked Tehran to antisemitic attacks, including incidents at a Melbourne synagogue and a kosher restaurant in Sydney. Albanese said the acts were “dangerous” attempts by a foreign power to undermine social cohesion, and confirmed that Australia would close its embassy in Tehran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong advised Australians against travel to Iran and revealed that all Australian staff had already been relocated to safe third countries. The government also moved to formally designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. Interior Minister Tony Burke emphasised that, while no lives were lost, the attacks caused significant damage and trauma to Jewish Australians.
Iran rejected Australia’s accusations, with its Foreign Ministry dismissing the claims as politically motivated and promising reciprocal measures. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei suggested that Canberra’s decision was influenced by pressure from Israel, framing it as a response to Albanese’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN. Meanwhile, Jewish organisations in Australia welcomed the government’s strong stance, stressing that the attacks were deliberate attempts to terrorise their community and destroy places of worship.
Source: AP, dpa, Reuters
So What
Australia’s expulsion of Iranian diplomats and designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation reflects increasing evidence of Tehran’s destabilisation efforts through covert operations in the West. Regardless of Iran’s denials, it is likely that the IRGC is working to undermine social cohesion in Australia, as shown by this incident. Although removing the diplomats will disrupt these activities, it will not eliminate them, and the threat of further attempts to provoke division in Australian society remains.
Follow us to join the intelligence community!