Iran has vowed to take reciprocal measures after Australia expelled Tehran’s envoy, accusing the Iranian government of involvement in antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed the allegations on Tuesday, August 26, calling them baseless. “The accusation is absolutely rejected. Any inappropriate and unjustified action at the diplomatic level will face a reciprocal reaction,” he said.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alleged Iran was behind the torching of a kosher café in Sydney’s Bondi suburb in October 2024 and an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December. While both incidents caused property damage, no injuries were reported.
In response, Canberra declared Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi persona non grata and ordered him, along with three other officials, to leave within seven days. Australia also withdrew its own ambassador from Tehran and suspended operations at its embassy, which had been active since 1968.
Baqaei suggested the move was politically motivated, linking it to domestic backlash over Israel’s war in Gaza. “It appears this action is meant to offset the limited criticism Australia has directed at the Zionist regime (Israel),” he told reporters.
The expulsions mark a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions, with both nations recalling envoys. Observers warn the fallout could further strain regional diplomacy and raise security concerns for foreign missions in both Tehran and Canberra
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