In a rare diplomatic shake-up, Australia has ordered Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other embassy officials to pack their bags and leave Canberra within seven days. This is the first expulsion of an ambassador since World War Two! 😲
Canberra's bold move comes after two antisemitic arson attacks rocked Sydney and Melbourne, attacks that Australian leaders say were directed by Iran. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Tehran of crossing a line with these violent acts on Australian soil.
Not surprisingly, Iran's Foreign Ministry slammed the decision as unjustified, calling anti-Semitism a 'Western phenomenon'—and warned of possible reciprocal measures. They urged Australia to rethink its stance and said Canberra will bear responsibility for any consequences affecting Iranians in Australia.
Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said that the assessment by ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization) was rock solid: 'This is a violent attack on Australian soil against Australians. It cannot be countenanced. It's unacceptable.'
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also chimed in, assuring the public that the accusations weren't made lightly and that trust in ASIO should be sky-high.
It's like a real-life spy thriller—just with embassies instead of secret lairs! 🕵️♂️💣 With tensions heating up between Canberra and Tehran, the world is watching: could this spark a new chapter in Middle East–Australia relations? 🌏🔥
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
