Iran’s ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi, leaving Sydney airport on Thursday before an expulsion deadline, rejected the accusation of Australia as “Téhéran led to the criminal fire attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia gave Sadeghi 72 hours on Tuesday to leave the country, marking its first expulsion from an ambassador since the Second World War. Three other officials of the Iranian embassy were ordered to leave within seven days.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was informed on Monday by Australian Security Intelligence Organization, which cited proofs of payments to criminals which allegedly bind two attacks – against a synagogue and a kosher restaurant – to offshore individuals and to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“These are all allegations and baseless lies,” Sadeghi told journalists from the new and seven local television networks at Sydney airport on Thursday evening.
Earlier in Canberra, Sadeghi came out of his residence to say goodbye. “I love Australians, goodbye,” he said, waving towards television cameras.
Australia said that it would designate the IRGC of Tehran as a terrorist organization, joining the United States and Canada, which already list the group.
