The front page of the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Iran of organizing two anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, and said the country will sever diplomatic relations with Tehran on Tuesday.

Albanese said that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) concluded that Iran directed the arson attack on Lewis's Continental Kitchen, a Jewish food company located in Sydney, which occurred in October 2024, and an attack on the Adas Israel Synagogue in Melbourne two months later. Before announcing, the Australian government informed the Iranian ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeqi, that he would be expelled. Albanese also said that Australia has recalled its diplomats stationed in Iran and sent them to a third country.

An alert sent to Australians in Iran mentioned that the embassy is closed and urged them to "consider leaving as soon as possible under safe conditions." The warning stated: "Foreigners in Iran, including Australians and dual nationals of Australian-Iranian nationality, face a high risk of arbitrary detention or arrest." Australia has raised its travel warning to Iran to the highest level: "Do not travel" to Iran.

The Iranian government denied these allegations, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Albanese a "weak politician."

Araghchi wrote on the social platform X: "Iran is paying the price for the support of the Australian people for Palestine. Canberra should understand that it should not try to appease a regime led by war criminals."

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called Albanese a "weak politician who betrayed Israel," because Albanese announced on August 11 that his government would formalize the recognition of the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Police have arrested a suspect in the investigation of the Sydney cafe fire, as well as two individuals directly charged with setting fire to the Melbourne Jewish synagogue. Said Mohammad Mousavi, former president of the Nomads motorcycle gang in Sydney, was charged with directing the fire attacks on the Sydney cafe and the nearby Kullee Lewis Brewery.

The brewery was apparently mistaken for a cafe and became a target of collateral damage due to the anti-Semitic attack three days ago. A 21-year-old man from Melbourne, Giovanni Lauro, was charged last month as one of three masked arsonists who caused serious damage to the Jewish synagogue in December.

The second accused arsonist, a 20-year-old man from Melbourne, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, according to a police statement, and he has not been publicly named. "The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has now gathered sufficient credible intelligence to reach a disturbing conclusion," Albanese said at a press conference. "The Iranian government directed at least these two attacks."

Iran tried to cover up its involvement, but ASIO assessed that it was involved in these attacks. "These are unusual and dangerous acts of aggression planned by a foreign state on Australian territory," he said. "These acts attempt to undermine social cohesion and create discord in our communities. This is absolutely unacceptable."

Australian Foreign Minister Wong said that Canberra will maintain some diplomatic communication with Tehran to advance Australia's interests. She added that this is the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled an ambassador.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841557487494144/

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