The Iranian Ambassador Leaves Sydney After Being Expelled Amid Accusations of Anti-Semitic Attacks

The Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi arrived at Sydney Airport today, Thursday, before the deadline set by Australian authorities for his departure, following accusations from Canberra against Tehran of involvement in a scheme to carry out arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

The Australian government had granted Sadeghi a 72-hour deadline to leave, the first such action against an ambassador since World War II, while three other diplomats at the Iranian embassy were given seven days to leave the country.

The decision came after intelligence reports received by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated evidence of money being transferred from entities linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to foreign criminal elements suspected of being connected to attacks on a Jewish synagogue and a kosher restaurant.

In a statement made from Sydney Airport, Sadeghi denied the accusations, describing them as "false claims and slander," asserting that his country has no connection to these events. Earlier, the ambassador appeared outside his residence in Canberra bidding farewell to journalists, saying: "I love the Australian people... Goodbye."

In a related context, the Australian government announced its intention to classify the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, joining the United States and Canada, which have previously taken this action.