Iran has a long history of exploiting social divisions abroad. It saw an opportunity in Australia and took it | Lydia Khalil

The antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne are part of Tehran’s record of malign foreign interference – and it’s now one of the few tools it has left to project power

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ver since the 1979 Iranian Revolution ushered in the Islamic republic, Iran has had notoriously hostile relations with many western nations, particularly the United States, which it evocatively derides as the “Great Satan”.

While Iran is notorious for acts of state-sponsored terrorism and malicious foreign interference against any number of adversaries, until recently Australia has been largely spared. Australia has managed to maintain diplomatic relations with Iran despite tensions and differences, even acting as an important conduit for other allies.

The rapid deterioration of diplomatic relations between Australia and Iran this week was as dramatic as the evidence of Iran’s foreign interference on Australian soil. The Iranian-backed antisemitic attacks are not the first time Iran has meddled in Australian affairs. Iran’s foreign interference in Australia has been building over the years. But the violent attacks against Jewish targets are a marked escalation.