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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces Australia will declare the IRGC a ‘terrorist entity’.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Iran of orchestrating at least two anti-Jewish attacks on Australian soil and has announced plans to expel Iran’s ambassador to Canberra.
Addressing reporters in the Australian capital on Tuesday, Albanese characterized the attacks as efforts to erode social harmony and create divisions within Australia.
“This behavior is completely intolerable, and the Australian government is committed to taking firm and resolute action,” he stated. “Just moments ago, we informed the Iranian ambassador to Australia that he will be expelled.”
The prime minister also revealed that Australia has temporarily suspended operations at its embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and relocated all of its diplomats to a third country.
“Additionally, I can announce that the government intends to introduce legislation to classify Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a terrorist organization,” he added.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated that the Iranian ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, along with three of his colleagues, have been designated as persona non grata and given a seven-day window to depart the country. She noted that this marks the first instance since World War II in which Australia has expelled an ambassador, and that the country has also recalled its envoy to Tehran.
While the Albanese government will maintain certain diplomatic channels with Iran to safeguard Canberra’s interests, Wong recommended that Australians currently in the Middle Eastern nation return home. She also advised Australians considering travel to Iran to reconsider their plans.
More details to follow.
Addressing reporters in the Australian capital on Tuesday, Albanese characterized the attacks as efforts to erode social harmony and create divisions within Australia.
“This behavior is completely intolerable, and the Australian government is committed to taking firm and resolute action,” he stated. “Just moments ago, we informed the Iranian ambassador to Australia that he will be expelled.”
The prime minister also revealed that Australia has temporarily suspended operations at its embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and relocated all of its diplomats to a third country.
“Additionally, I can announce that the government intends to introduce legislation to classify Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a terrorist organization,” he added.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated that the Iranian ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, along with three of his colleagues, have been designated as persona non grata and given a seven-day window to depart the country. She noted that this marks the first instance since World War II in which Australia has expelled an ambassador, and that the country has also recalled its envoy to Tehran.
While the Albanese government will maintain certain diplomatic channels with Iran to safeguard Canberra’s interests, Wong recommended that Australians currently in the Middle Eastern nation return home. She also advised Australians considering travel to Iran to reconsider their plans.
More details to follow.
