Iran: Anthony Albanese expels Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi after attacks on Jewish communities

Iran has orchestrated at least two terror attacks on Australian soil, disguised as criminal anti-Semitic actions, with ASIO and police investigating whether it was behind others.

The revelations have prompted Anthony Albanese to expel Iran’s ambassador, recall Australian diplomats and list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

The Prime Minister sent a clear message to nations like Iran, “who seek to interfere in our country, that your aggression will not be tolerated”.

“Any attack on our social cohesion is an attack on Australia,” he said.

“It is likely Iran directed further attacks as well.

“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil, they were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. It is totally unacceptable.”

The intelligence agencies presented the Government on Monday with evidence that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was behind the arson attacks on Bondi kosher caterer Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in October 2024, and the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne in December that year.

It uncovered chains of intermediaries and proxies, including some with organised crime links, in multiple countries that were directing the attacks, which ASIO boss Mike Burgess described as “a layer cake of cut-outs”.

Mr Albanese said it was a “deeply disturbing conclusion”.

The spy chief said intelligence was still being gathered about possible links to other anti-Semitic attacks, but declined to say whether that involved incidents in states other than NSW and Victoria.

“It goes without saying that Iran’s actions are utterly unacceptable. They put lives at risk. They terrified the community, and they tore at our social fabric,” Mr Burgess said.

“Iran and its proxies literally and figuratively lit the matches and fanned the flames.”

Not all the anti-Semitic incidents over the past two years are linked to Iran, but Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Iran’s actions had emboldened others.

“It’s true that no one was injured in these attacks, it is not true that no one was harmed,” he said.

“The community of the Adass Israel Synagogue was harmed, the community that shopped at the Lewis’ Continental Kitchen and the owners were harmed, the Jewish community were harmed, other communities who were blamed were harmed, but simply Australia was attacked and Australia was harmed.

“There is anti-Semitism in Australia. It is real, it is debilitating, yet this attack was driven by anti-Semitism that originated in Iran.”

Charges have been laid domestically in relation to the Bondi and Melbourne attacks, but it’s highly unlikely those overseas who were also involved will ever face court in Australia.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Coalition was disgusted to learn of the “serious and chilling foreign interference” by Iran.

“These acts of egregious foreign interference are brazen attempts to cleave apart our social cohesion – to turn neighbour against neighbour, and Australian against Australian,” she said.

“I therefore want to make abundantly clear on behalf of the Coalition, that while we sit opposite from the government in this chamber, we are entirely united behind the measures announced today to expel the Iranian Ambassador and list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.”

The Government briefed Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie about the case on Tuesday morning.

It learned of ASIO’s findings on Monday and worked across a 24-hour period to get Australian officials in Iran to safety,

Australia has had an embassy in Tehran since 1968, and hasn’t expelled an ambassador from its soil since WWII.

The link has acted as a communication channel between Iran and the Five Eyes countries such as in June when Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke with her Iranian counterpart to urge restraint as it contemplated retaliation for Israel’s attacks on its nuclear program.

“Australia has had an embassy in Iran since 1968; at that time, and since that time, it has never been an endorsement of the regime. It has been a channel to advocate for our interests and for our people,” Senator Wong on Tuesday said.

DFAT has also upgraded its travel warnings for Iran, which has been listed as “do not travel” since 2020.

“I know many Australians have family connections in Iran, but I urge any Australian who may be considering travelling to Iran, please do not do so,” Senator Wong said.

“If you’re an Australian in Iran, leave now if it is safe to do so.”

The Government doesn’t yet have a timeframe for listing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation given the complexities of it being a part of a foreign government.

The powerful IRGC answers directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader and backs terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Liberal Senator Claire Chandler led a Senate inquiry into the organisation that recommended two years ago that it be added to the terror list.

She said the action was welcome but long overdue.

“These threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran regime to our national security and democratic values are not new . . . it shouldn’t have taken until now for the Australian Government to act,” she said.

“The Iranian diaspora in Australia has tirelessly and courageously advocated for many years to expose the brutality of the IRI regime.”

Mr Burke warned that blame for these attacks shouldn’t fall on Iranian Australians, because that would further tear at the nation’s social fabric.

Independent MP Allegra Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth is home to a large Jewish population, including in Bondi, said that at the time of escalating anti-Semitism attacks last year, which included arson and graffiti, some people had labelled it a false flag and “not real” but it had still instilled fear in her community.

“It is real and there has been real fear out there and that’s been really tough,” she told The Nightly.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said his organisation had warned for years of the threat posed by the Iranian regime which had “consistently shown a willingness and capability to finance and orchestrate terror all over the world”.

“Israel’s enemies are Australia’s enemies. This is apparent. The same regime that helped plan the October 7 atrocities, directed Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel, attacked Israel directly with ballistic missiles and threatened it with nuclear annihilation, is responsible for plotting and executing attacks against Australians,” he said.

“Our community will perhaps find some solace from this breakthrough in the investigation and in knowing that the skill and devotion of our law enforcement and security agencies is there to protect us.

“Yet there will be great anxiety that we have been targeted in such a callous and calculated way, by a ruthless and violent foreign force, because of who we are.”

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