Since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, Australian homes, schools, synagogues, and vehicles have been targeted in antisemitic vandalism and arson, while Islamophobic incidents have also surged.
Australia on Tuesday said Iran sought to “disguise its involvement” in last year’s attacks on a kosher restaurant in Sydney and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. Canberra’s order for the Iranian ambassador to leave within seven days was its first such expulsion since World War Two.
Burke said there was no reason to believe the people behind the two antisemitic attacks were aware Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was directing them.
“But that doesn’t change the seriousness from the Australian government’s point of view that Iran was still involved in directing attacks on Australian soil,” Burke said.
Iran has repeatedly denied such allegations, which it says are part of a campaign against it by hostile Western powers.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned Australians to avoid travelling to Iran after the government decided to close its embassy in the country, where she estimates up to 4,000 Australian citizens are currently living.
“If you are in Iran, you should come home,” Wong told Nine News.
