Iran reduced Australia's diplomatic presence in Tehran after Canberra expelled Iran's ambassador, accusing Tehran of directing two antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The move marks Australia's first such expulsion since World War Two
Iran has downgraded diplomatic relations with Australia, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, a week after Australia expelled the Iranian ambassador over accusations that Tehran directed two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
"According to diplomatic law and in response to Australia's action, the Islamic Republic has also reciprocally reduced the level of Australia's diplomatic presence in Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, adding that Canberra's ambassador had left Iran.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last week that operations at Australia's embassy in Tehran were suspended and all Australian diplomats were safe in a third country.
Albanese also said that his government would pass legislation to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
