Australia's listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism is "an unjustified and insulting action," Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday shared on its Telegram channel.
"This irresponsible action is in line with the gross error that the Australian government committed based on completely false and fabricated accusations by the security institutions of the Zionist regime (Israel)," Iran's foreign ministry statement read.
Australia has listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday, following an intelligence assessment that it had orchestrated attacks against Australia's Jewish Community.
Australia in August accused Iran of directing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave Tehran's ambassador seven days to leave the country on Tuesday, its first such expulsion since World War Two.
According to a joint media release from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, and the Attorney General, the IRGC is the first listing of a state sponsor of terrorism under a recently developed framework designed to allow the government to respond to state-sponsored terrorism.
"All Australians deserve to feel safe"
"Iran's attacks were unprecedented and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil," Hong said, "The Albanese Government has taken stronger action on Iran than any previous Australian government and will continue to work to keep Australians safe."
Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP, emphasized the Australian government's commitment to combating antisemitism.
"All Australians deserve to feel safe, welcome and at home; it is this view that underpinned the legislative changes which have enabled the listing of the IRGC," Burke said. "The Australian Government will continue to pursue all avenues to combat bigotry, including antisemitism."
"The Government is committed to ensuring our counter-terrorism laws are robust and as effective as possible," Attorney-General Michelle Rowland MP added. "These reforms make it more difficult, more risky, and more costly for malicious foreign actors to seek to cause Australia and our community harm."