Australia Expels Iranian Ambassador and Closes Embassy in Tehran

Sada News - The Australian government announced on Tuesday the expulsion of Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other diplomats, giving them seven days to leave the country, along with withdrawing its ambassador from Tehran and suspending operations at its embassy there. This decision marks a precedent since World War II.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated at a press conference that Australia has given the Iranian ambassador and three other Iranian diplomats seven days to leave the country.

This is the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II.

For his part, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that intelligence agencies reached a "very concerning conclusion" that Iran orchestrated at least two anti-Semitic attacks.

The Prime Minister said at a press conference that Tehran is behind an arson attack targeting the Louis Continental café, which specializes in serving kosher food for Jews, in the Bondi suburb of Sydney in October 2024.

He added that intelligence also concluded that Iran was behind another deliberate fire targeting the Adas Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.

Neither of the attacks resulted in any casualties.

Albanese stated, "These were exceptional and dangerous aggressive acts orchestrated by a foreign state on Australian soil."

He added, "These were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. This is absolutely unacceptable."

The Prime Minister suggested that Iran may be behind other anti-Semitic attacks that have occurred in Australia.

Consequently, Australia declared Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi "persona non grata" and ordered him along with three other Iranian diplomats to leave the country within seven days.

Additionally, Australia withdrew its ambassador to Iran and suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran.

The Prime Minister stated that all Australian diplomats accredited in Iran are now "safe in a third country."

He added that Australia will also begin the necessary procedures to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

For her part, Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that this is the first time her country has expelled an ambassador in the post-war period.

She said, "We made this decision because Iran's actions are absolutely unacceptable."

The Foreign Minister clarified that Australia will maintain diplomatic channels with Iran to protect the interests of Australians in that country.

Australia has had an embassy in Tehran since 1968.