The Australian government has announced it is expelling the Iranian ambassador to Canberra, accusing Iran of involvement in anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney.
The country's intelligence services have come to the "deeply disturbing conclusion" that Iran orchestrated at least two anti-Semitic attacks in late 2004, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference.
Australia has given the ambassador and three other Iranian diplomats seven days to leave the country, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
This is the first time Australia has done this since World War II.
Canberra also suspended the activities of its embassy in Tehran and withdrew the ambassador.
Australia, however, does not intend to completely sever diplomatic relations with Iran, in order to defend the interests of its citizens, Penny Wong added.
The Australian Prime Minister said that Iran was behind the fires at a kosher cafe in a Sydney suburb in October 2024 and at the Adas Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.
There were no injuries in these incidents.
The Australian Prime Minister added that Iran is likely behind other anti-Semitic attacks in the country.
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