SYDNEY - The Australian government on Wednesday rejected claims that its move to expel the Iranian ambassador and suspend its own embassy in Tehran was taken to appease Israel.
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said on Wednesday morning that Iran's actions had "crossed a line" after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday accused the Middle Eastern nation of directing antisemitic attacks in Australia since October 2023.
Albanese announced at a press conference on Tuesday that Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other officials had been expelled from Australia after the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) gathered "credible evidence" that Iran directed at least two attacks.
Responding to the accusation in a post on social media platform X, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Canberra "should know better than to appease" the Israeli regime.
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Wong said that the government rejected the claim and had faith in ASIO's assessment.
"This is a violent attack on Australian soil against Australians. It cannot be countenanced. It's unacceptable," she told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television.
"That's why we have taken unprecedented action. This is the first expulsion of an ambassador in the post-war period," she said.
In addition to expelling Sadeghi, Australia has suspended its embassy in Tehran and will move to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Albanese said on Tuesday.
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ASIO has identified arson attacks on a Melbourne synagogue in December 2024 and a Sydney kosher restaurant in October 2024 as those believed to have been directed by Iran.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC radio on Wednesday that the accusations against Iran were "not made lightly" and that the Australian public should have a "very high level" of confidence in ASIO's assessment.
