Australia has taken the significant step of expelling Iran's ambassador, escalating tensions as a response to what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described as state-sponsored terrorist attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian government directly attributes the October 2024 firebombing of a kosher café in Bondi and the December 2024 arson at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne to the Iranian regime.

According to details from the Prime Minister's Office, these incidents represent a grave breach of peace and safety on Australian soil, orchestrated and financially supported by Iran. The ambassador has been ordered to vacate Australia within seven days, a move unprecedented since the post-World War II era.

Investigations by Australian police and security agencies into both attacks have been underway for several months. A joint statement in December 2024 by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team indicated that the Melbourne synagogue arson was formally classified as a terrorist act. By July 2025, this probe had led to the arrest of a second individual linked to the attacks.

In New South Wales, the October attack on the Bondi café was connected to a broader wave of antisemitic incidents, prompting multiple arrests by March 2025 as reported by NSW Police.

This expulsion echoes a broader, more robust security posture against Iran, as highlighted by Foreign Minister Penny Wong's June announcement suspending operations at the Australian Embassy in Tehran amidst increasing threats.

Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the government's resolve in his statements to the press, declaring, "This government will always act to protect Australians and to ensure that foreign powers cannot operate with impunity on our soil." This decisive action marks a significant stance by Australia in response to foreign threats and antisemitism, reaffirming its commitment to national security and international diplomatic standards.