SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday accused Iran of directing antisemitic attacks in Australia and announced that Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has been expelled from the country. 

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Albanese said that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) has gathered credible evidence that Iran directed at least two antisemitic attacks against the Australian Jewish community in Sydney and Melbourne since October 2023.

"Iran has sought to disguise its involvement, but the ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks," he said.

He said that the Australian embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and all its diplomats are safe in a third country.

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The Australian government will move to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, Albanese said.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that it is the first time that an ambassador has been expelled from Australia since World War II, and urged any Australians in Iran to leave if it is safe to do so.