Australia’s Government Lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as State Sponsor of Terrorism, Provoking Tehran’s Fury
Canberra cites alleged Iranian-directed anti-Semitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne; Tehran condemns the decision as “insulting and unjustified.”
Australia’s government has formally designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, invoking 2025-legislation passed specifically to counter foreign-state-sponsored violence inside the country.
The move follows a national intelligence assessment linking the IRGC to two anti-Semitic arson attacks in 2024 — one at a kosher restaurant in Sydney, another at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne — that targeted Jewish-Australian communities.
According to the government, the attacks were “unprecedented and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.” The listing marks the first time Canberra has invoked its new legal framework to label a foreign state entity as a terror sponsor, imposing sweeping restrictions: recruitment, funding, membership, support, or any form of association with the IRGC is now subject to criminal penalties, potentially up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
In announcing the listing, Penny Wong (Foreign Minister) and Tony Burke (Home Affairs Minister) emphasised that the threat to national security and social cohesion was serious.
They pledged that the government would continue to use every legal avenue to defend Australia’s multicultural society from bigotry, hatred and violence.
Michelle Rowland (Attorney-General) added that the reforms made it far more difficult, risky and costly for foreign actors seeking to harm Australian communities.
Tehran responded swiftly and angrily.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran condemned the designation, calling it “an insulting and unjustified action” and contending that the accusations against the IRGC were “completely false and fabricated.” The statement accused Australia of acting on hostility and aligning with what Iran described as the security interests of the “Zionist regime.” The listing deepens a growing rift between Australia and Iran.
In August 2025, Canberra expelled Iran’s ambassador and several diplomats — the first such expulsion since World War II — after intelligence services concluded the IRGC orchestrated the 2024 Sydney and Melbourne attacks using proxy operatives.
The embassy in Tehran was suspended, and Australian diplomatic staff were relocated to a third country.
The new legal designation of the IRGC underscores Australia’s resolve to respond decisively to foreign threats, aiming to safeguard national security and protect minority communities from targeted violence.
The move follows a national intelligence assessment linking the IRGC to two anti-Semitic arson attacks in 2024 — one at a kosher restaurant in Sydney, another at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne — that targeted Jewish-Australian communities.
According to the government, the attacks were “unprecedented and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.” The listing marks the first time Canberra has invoked its new legal framework to label a foreign state entity as a terror sponsor, imposing sweeping restrictions: recruitment, funding, membership, support, or any form of association with the IRGC is now subject to criminal penalties, potentially up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
In announcing the listing, Penny Wong (Foreign Minister) and Tony Burke (Home Affairs Minister) emphasised that the threat to national security and social cohesion was serious.
They pledged that the government would continue to use every legal avenue to defend Australia’s multicultural society from bigotry, hatred and violence.
Michelle Rowland (Attorney-General) added that the reforms made it far more difficult, risky and costly for foreign actors seeking to harm Australian communities.
Tehran responded swiftly and angrily.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran condemned the designation, calling it “an insulting and unjustified action” and contending that the accusations against the IRGC were “completely false and fabricated.” The statement accused Australia of acting on hostility and aligning with what Iran described as the security interests of the “Zionist regime.” The listing deepens a growing rift between Australia and Iran.
In August 2025, Canberra expelled Iran’s ambassador and several diplomats — the first such expulsion since World War II — after intelligence services concluded the IRGC orchestrated the 2024 Sydney and Melbourne attacks using proxy operatives.
The embassy in Tehran was suspended, and Australian diplomatic staff were relocated to a third country.
The new legal designation of the IRGC underscores Australia’s resolve to respond decisively to foreign threats, aiming to safeguard national security and protect minority communities from targeted violence.
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