Australia accuses Iran of being behind two hostile attacks, ambassadors to leave

Australia accused Iran on Tuesday of carrying out two deliberate attacks hostile to Semitism in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and the Ambassador of Tehran gave seven days to leave the country, its first expulsion since World War II.

Since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, Australian houses, schools, temples and cars have been targeted in anti-Semitic sabotage and intentional burning, while Islamic incidents have risen.

Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz said that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) has gathered reliable intelligence that Iran had at least two attacks.

“These were unusual and dangerous aggressive actions spread by a foreign country on Australian lands,” Albaniz told a media newspaper. “They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow disagreement in our society.”

Albaniz said that Iran sought to “reduce its involvement” in the attacks last year on the Kushir Restaurant in Sydney and the Knis of Israel in Melbourne. No injuries were reported in the attacks.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Australia’s decision was driven by internal affairs, and the anti -Semitism was not a place in Iranian culture.

Government media reported that Iran would make an appropriate decision in response to Australia.

The Australian Security Agency said that Iran is likely to direct other attacks, adding that Australia suspended operations at the Tehran embassy and all its diplomats were safe in a third country.

Albaniz added that the government will display the Islamic Guard Corps in Tehran (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Canada IRGC set a terrorist entity last year, and the United States did this in 2019.

“They only use pieces, including criminals and organized crime gang members to provide their bids or send their bids,” said Mike Burgis, General Manager of the Security Agency.

Foreign Minister Benny Wong said that Ambassador Ahmed Sadighi and three Iranian officials had seven days to leave.

The Israeli embassy in Australia welcomed the measures against Iran.

He said in a statement on X.

Relations between Israel and Australia have been strained since the Canperra government has decided to the left to recognize a Palestinian state on August 11, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Australia Skynews that he had “suffered” forever through this decision.

The attacks led to arrests

Two men were charged with the December attack, which referred to the synagogue, which was built by the Holocaust survivors in the sixties in the Ripponlea suburb.

Last week, police in the southeastern state of Victoria said they were studying the electronic devices that were seized in a search for a men’s home, which is scheduled to appear before the court on Wednesday.

The police say that three people stormed the synagogue and set fire.

Destruction of fire at Kosher Restaurant in Bondi, Lewis Continental Kitchen. The media said that the man who was arrested in January because of this attack had links to a well -known Australian motorcycle gang. He denied the charges in court and was released on bail.

About 90,000 Iranian people born in Australia live.

The Iranian Australian Society Organization welcomed the expulsion and move to the IRGC declaration as a terrorist group.

“We are really happy to see them go.”