Aa
  • Read, Watch, Listen
  • TJI Series
  • Community Action
  • Events
  • Zedi
Follow us and continue the conversation
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • FaceBook
  • X
  • YouTube
Test yourself with the TJI Quiz!

Adjust size of text

Aa

Follow us and continue the conversation

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • FaceBook
  • X
  • YouTube

Your saved articles

You haven't saved any articles

What are you looking for?

Original reporting, insightful analysis and diverse views, delivered straight to your inbox

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • FaceBook
  • X
  • YouTube
Your support fuels our mission to inform, entertain and inspire.

The Jewish Independent is bound by the Standards of Practice of the Australian Press Council. If you believe the Standards may have been breached, you may approach The Jewish Independent or make a complaint to the Australian Press Council in writing at www.presscouncil.org.au. The Council may also be contacted on 1800 025 712.

  • Our Story
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Support us
  • Guidelines
  • Pitch your idea
  • Republishing us
  • Community Action
  • Our Awards
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • FaceBook
  • X
  • YouTube
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Islanders Flag

The Jewish Independent acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and strive to honour their rich history of storytelling in our work and mission.

© The Jewish Independent 2026All Rights Reserved
Website design and development by Your Creative, MelbourneTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy
HomeRead, Watch, ListenAustralia
NewsAustralia

Iran behind antisemitic attacks in Australia

Australia has expelled the Iranian ambassador after finding Iran was behind at least two major antisemitic attacks in Australia last year.
Deborah Stone
Print this
albanese media conference

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador due to Iranian involvement in an antisemitic attack on the Adass Israel synagogue (YouTube screenshot).

Published: 26 August 2025

Last updated: 28 August 2025

ASIO has confirmed that the Iranian government is behind the attacks on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and Continental Kitchen in Sydney, and believes it may be responsible for other antisemitic attacks across the country.

Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has been expelled from Australia, and the Australian embassy in Tehran has suspended its operations and moved all diplomats to safety in a third country.

Australia will list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation in response to the attacks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Iranian involvement at a media conference in Canberra this afternoon.

"These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil. They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community," Albanese said.

Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs, said although no one was injured in the attacks, they did significant harm to Australia.

"The community of the Adass Israel Synagogue was harmed, the community that shopped at the Lewis' Continental Kitchen and the owners were harmed, the Jewish community were harmed, other communities who were blamed were harmed, but simply Australia was attacked and Australia was harmed."

Australian criminal involvement

The embassy is not believed to have been directly involved in the attacks, which were directed by the IRGC from outside Australia. The Prime Minister said Iran had used "people who are criminal and members of organised crime gangs" to do their bidding in Australia, at least some of them paid.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the IRGC was behind at least two attacks and had probably been involved in others. It used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement.

"In this year's annual threat assessment, I warned Australia's complex, challenging and changing security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded," Burgess said. "Unfortunately all three of these characteristics apply in this case."

Iran’s Ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi (L), with ex-Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, before leaving to take up his post in Australia (Image: Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Iran’s Ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi (L), with ex-Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, before leaving to take up his post in Australia (Image: Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Unprecedented in post-war Australia

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Iranian ambassador had been expelled together with three other Iranian diplomats, the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled an ambassador.

"We have made this decision because Iran's actions are completely unacceptable," she said.

Wong has urged Australians not to travel to Iran, and said any Australians in the country should leave now if it is safe to do so.

"Iran has sought to undermine the cohesion of our community, they have tried to divide the Australian community, and they have done so with acts of aggression that not only sought to terrify Australians, but put Australian lives in danger," Wong said.

Watch the Prime Minister's media conference here:

Jewish community and Israeli reaction

Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion KC said the Australian Jewish community was grateful to police and ASIO for their work investigating these attacks, bringing the perpetrators to justice, and protecting all Australians from terrorism. 

"These attacks instigated by the Iranian regime are an attack on our nation and our sovereignty. As Australians, we are outraged that a foreign actor perpetrated acts of terror on our soil. Foremost, these were attacks that deliberately targeted Jewish Australians, destroyed a sacred house of worship, caused millions of dollars of damage, and terrified our community.

"For many years, we have warned of the threat posed by the Iranian regime. This is not a regime that merely subjugates its own citizens and wages war in the Middle East through its proxies. It has consistently shown a willingness and capability to finance and orchestrate terror all over the world. The organ of the regime directly responsible for this is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is entirely appropriate for it to now be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

"Israel’s enemies are Australia’s enemies. This is apparent. The same regime that helped plan the October 7 atrocities, directed Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel, attacked Israel directly with ballistic missiles and threatened it with nuclear annihilation, is responsible for plotting and executing attacks against Australians. 

"The Iranian regime has demonstrated that antisemitism is a threat not only to the Jews, it is a threat to civilisation. 

"Our community will perhaps find some solace from this breakthrough in the investigation and in knowing that the skill and devotion of our law enforcement and security agencies is there to protect us. Yet there will be great anxiety that we have been targeted in such a callous and calculated way, by a ruthless and violent foreign force, because of who we are."

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) released a statement saying it is deeply disturbed by revelations that Iran was involved in the planning and execution of multiple antisemitic attacks on Australian soil.

President of the ZFA, Jeremy Leibler, said, “the government’s actions today send a powerful and principled message that terrorism, foreign interference, and hate have no place in Australia.

“The IRGC has for decades orchestrated violence and directed and funded extremist networks well beyond Iran’s borders. Today’s announcement proves what we have long warned; that Iran’s malign reach extends into western democracies, including here in Australia. The firebombing of the Adass Synagogue is a chilling example of how Iranian state actors have sought to export antisemitism, destabilise Australian society, and endanger lives. The listing of the IRGC is a necessary step to ensure that terrorism is not given a foothold on Australian soil.”

The Jewish Independent

National Council of Jewish Women Australia President Lynda Ben-Menashe said "NCJWA echoes the Prime Minister’s statement that the enemies of Jewish Australians are the enemies of all Australians. These particular enemies of the Jewish people are also the enemies of all women.

"The IRGC and the Islamic Regime have been waging a war of terror on women for decades, and we are gratified that Australia has now recognised them as the terrorists that they are."

You might also like
  • Antisemitism, homophobia and a radical response to both
    Dennis Altman
  • Confronting Richard Flanagan and the myth of the Israel lobby
    Mary Garden
  • UK’s dramatic policy change on Israel-Palestine
    Colin Shindler
logomark.67a07ee3
We believe in the free flow of information

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, by using our Creative Commons licence

You might also like

    vandalism car woollahra fuk israel farhat
    Australia

    Court decision fails to understand when ‘Fuk Israel’ becomes antisemitic

    Jeremie Bracka 6
    Generation Change: Rachel Moshel
    Generation ChangeInterviewArts & Culture

    Rachel Moshel: Creating a space for Jewish art and joy

    Gideon Cohen
    Tame
    Australia

    Tame apologises – but with little grace

    Deborah Stone 1

About the author

Deborah Stone

Deborah Stone

Deborah Stone is Editor-in-Chief of TJI. She has more than 30 years experience as a journalist and editor, including as a reporter and feature writer on The Age and The Sunday Age, as Editor of the Australian Jewish News and as Editor of ArtsHub.

More from the author

NewsIsrael

‘Israel is systemically eliminating Palestinian collective life’:  B’Tselem

Australia

Tame apologises – but with little grace

NewsAustralia

Australia to increase sanctions against West Bank settlements

NewsAustralia

Humanitarian organisations fail on antisemitism: new research

Comments1

  • Avatar of Ian Light

    Ian Light26 August at 07:49 am

    The Australian Government has shown it is in pursuit of a courageous and humane policy .
    It is forbidding the Extreme Malevolent Forces from Australian Soil .
    The Humane Policy of the Release of all Israeli Hostages a Ceasefire and a Flood of aid to Gaza plus an International Moderate Arab led Force in Gaza for Rebuilding De radicalisation and De Militarisation is supported .