FM spox calls Australia’s expulsion of Iranian envoy ‘Israeli plot’
‘Relations with Australia is of great importance for Tehran’
Iran's Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described Australia's expulsion of Iran’s ambassador as "regrettable" and "unjustified" and a result of a plot engineered by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
In an interview with Australia’s Nine Network television, the Iranian official said that the decision by the Australian government was the "easiest way to please or appease" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On August 25, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alleged that Tehran was involved in what he called two anti-Semitic attacks in his country, ordering that the Iranian ambassador in Canberra – Ahmad Sadeghi – and three other diplomats to leave Australia within seven days.
Albanese claimed that Tehran was behind the torching of a kosher cafe in Sydney's Bondi suburb in October 2024 and a major arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.
In response to the Australia’s move, Iran reduced the level of Australia’s diplomatic presence in Tehran to downgrade diplomatic relations.
Australia’s decision to expel Iranian diplomats came weeks after Albanese and Netanyahu became embroiled in a diplomatic dispute after the Australian prime minister announced that Canberra would formally recognize Palestinian statehood and decided to cancel a visa for a right-wing Israeli minister’s visit to Australia.
In response, Israel canceled visas for Australian diplomats assigned to the Palestinian Authority, while Netanyahu launched a sharp attack on Albanese, calling him a “weak leader.”
In his interview with the Australian television, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman called Albanese’s claims “baseless", saying that, "It's regrettable. We think what the Australian government did was unjustified".
"No one can believe in Iran that this accusation has any basis in reality. It is simply a fabrication."
Regarding any attempt to repair relations, Baqaei said that, "It was the Australian government that decided to cut down diplomatic relations. It was not vice versa," he said.
"So, it is for the Australian government to decide what really fits their nation's interest and we have … been self-restrained in terms of our reaction to what they did."
He added that relations with Australia is of great importance for Tehran.
“Since 1968, when we established diplomatic relations with Australia, we have maintained a respectful relationship with Australia,” he said.