Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador and suspended direct diplomatic ties with Tehran following accusations that the Iranian government orchestrated two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Tuesday, citing findings from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), which concluded that Iran was behind coordinated arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in Sydney and Melbourne. The incidents involved an October 2024 attack on Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher food business in Sydney, and a December 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.

“ASIO has now gathered credible intelligence leading to a deeply disturbing conclusion,” Albanese said. “These were not isolated acts of hate — they were directed by the Iranian government. Despite attempts to conceal its involvement, ASIO assesses Iran was behind the attacks.”

Calling the incidents “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression,” the prime minister said the attacks were designed to undermine Australia’s social fabric and incite division.

Following the announcement, the Australian government formally notified Iran’s Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi of his expulsion. Australian diplomats have also been recalled from Tehran and relocated to a third country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued an updated travel advisory for Iran, urging Australian citizens to leave the country if it is safe to do so. The Australian embassy in Tehran has been closed, and the travel warning for Iran is now at its highest level: “Do not travel.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the gravity of the decision, noting that it marks the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador. While some limited diplomatic communication channels will remain in place for consular and security purposes, Wong stressed that the government’s move reflects the seriousness of the threat to Australia’s national security and community cohesion.