‘Australia’s Expulsion of Iranian Ambassador Orchestrated by Mossad’
TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has exercised restraint in response to Australia’s recent decision to expel its ambassador, describing the move as “regrettable” and “unjustified.”
In an exclusive interview with Australia’s 60 Minutes, Baghaei dismissed accusations linking Iran to violent antisemitic attacks on Australian soil as “baseless” and attributed Australia’s actions to a plot orchestrated by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Leveling the accusations, Australia expelled Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi, prompting the Islamic Republic to show the door to Ian McConville in retaliation and downgrade diplomatic relations with the country.
However, Baghaei strongly rejected the allegations, saying, “No one can believe in Iran that this accusation has any basis in reality. It is simply a fabrication.”
He said Canberra is yielding to pressure from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the decision the “easiest way to please or appease” Israel.
Regarding the classification of the IRGC as a terrorist entity by countries including the U.S. and Canada, Baghaei described it as part of a broader “campaign of disinformation and misinformation,” fueled by “Iranophobia.” He characterized the IRGC as a “strong force against Iran’s enemies.”
Baghaei also denied claims of Iranian surveillance or harassment of the Iranian diaspora in Australia, countering reports by a 2023 Australian Senate inquiry. “We categorically deny any such report, any such allegation of Iran doing surveillance or monitoring on our citizens in Australia,” he said.
When asked about prospects for mending ties with Australia, Baghaei stressed that the responsibility lies with the Australian government.
“It was the Australian government that decided to cut down diplomatic relations. It was not vice versa,” he said, adding that Iran “has been self-restrained in terms of our reaction to what they did.”