Iran has strongly condemned Australia’s decision to expel its ambassador, describing the move as politically motivated and based on unfounded allegations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that any improper diplomatic action would be met with a reciprocal response.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected accusations that Iran orchestrated anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, calling the claims “absolutely invalid.” He asserted that the concept of anti-Semitism “has no place in our religion” and accused Western nations of fabricating the narrative to deflect from their own historical record.
“This action against Iran, which targets diplomacy, seems intended to offset the limited criticisms Australia has directed at the Israeli regime,” Baqaei said, referencing recent mass protests in Australia over the situation in Gaza.
The diplomatic fallout follows Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that Iran was behind two attacks targeting Jewish institutions in Sydney and Melbourne last year. Albanese described the incidents as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation,” claiming they were designed to undermine social cohesion.
Australia has declared Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other diplomats “persona non grata,” ordering them to leave the country within seven days. In a parallel move, Canberra suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran and relocated its diplomatic staff to a third country.
The Australian government also announced plans to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing intelligence assessments that linked the group to the attacks.
Iran has yet to announce its formal response, but Baqaei confirmed that officials are “currently weighing a countermeasure.”
The incident marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries and could have broader implications for regional and international relations.
