‘Gravely concerned’ Winston Peters reacts to news Iran behind attacks in Australia

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says state-sponsored attacks designed to sow discord are completely unacceptable. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is “gravely concerned” to learn the Australian Government has pinned anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne on Iran.

“New Zealand unequivocally condemns Iran’s actions, including through proxies, in Gaza, the Red Sea and around the Middle East and the world. State-sponsored attacks designed to sow discord are completely unacceptable,” Peters said in a post to the social media platform X.

“I have asked MFAT [Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] officials to convey our concerns urgently and directly to the Iranian ambassador in Wellington.”

Earlier today, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia was expelling the Iranian ambassador, accusing Iran of being behind the attacks.

It is the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II, AFP reported.

Tehran was behind a fire attack on a kosher cafe, the Lewis Continental Cafe, in Sydney’s Bondi suburb in October 2024, the Prime Minister told a news conference.

Iran also directed an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024, Albanese said, citing Australian intelligence.

No physical injuries were reported in the two attacks.

“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” Albanese said in remarks reported by AFP.

“They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. It is totally unacceptable.”

Australia declared Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi “persona non grata” and ordered him and three other officials to leave the country within seven days.

Australia withdrew its ambassador to Iran and suspended the embassy’s operations in Tehran.

The Australian diplomats were all “safe in a third country”, Albanese said.

Australia will also legislate to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

– Additional reporting AFP