Australia Expels Iranian Ambassador Over Alleged Arson Attacks
August 26, 2025
Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador and three officials following allegations that Tehran was behind two antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian government also suspended embassy operations in Tehran.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that intelligence from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) indicated Iran had orchestrated the attacks, including the torching of a kosher café in Bondi, Sydney, and an attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in late 2024. No injuries were reported in either attack.
“These were extraordinary acts of aggression on Australian soil,” Albanese said, describing them as attempts to undermine social cohesion.
In response, Iran rejected the accusations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the allegations “absolutely rejected” and warned that any diplomatic measures would receive reciprocal action.
Diplomatic Fallout
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the move is the first expulsion of an envoy since World War II. Iran’s Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other officials were given seven days to leave the country. The government also plans to designate Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, accusing it of directing people in Australia to commit crimes using local intermediaries.
The Australian-Iranian community welcomed the action, while Israel’s embassy in Canberra praised the move, calling Iran a threat to global security.
Investigations and Legal Actions
Two men have been charged over the Melbourne synagogue attack. Authorities are also investigating the arson at the Bondi kosher restaurant, Lewis Continental Kitchen. One suspect, linked to an Australian motorcycle gang, was released on bail after denying the charges.
Context and Regional Tensions
The dispute comes amid strained Australia-Iran relations, heightened by Israel-Iran tensions and recent Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. Australian authorities reported a global rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab bias since October 2023. Civil society groups, including the Islamophobia Register, noted a 500% increase in incidents in workplaces, universities, and media.
Albanese stressed that Australia’s action is aimed at protecting communities, upholding sovereignty, and responding to threats posed by foreign interference.
