Iran’s foreign ministry has admonished the Australian ambassador in Tehran over what it said was his country’s biased stance on Iran’s attack on Israel, Iranian news agency Tasnim has reported.
Ian McConville was summoned on Sunday due to what Iran claimed was Australia’s repeated bias, including on Iran’s response to what it called “the Zionist regime”, meaning Israel.
According to the Tasnim story, Iranian officials complained about Australia’s “silence” regarding Israel’s “repeated aggressions” in Gaza and Lebanon.
McConville responded by explaining the steps Australia had taken to call for a ceasefire, and said he’d notify Canberra of Tehran’s protest, according to the Iranian story.
Monash University Centre for Jewish Civilisation affiliate research associate Ran Porat said it was fairly common for Iran to summon foreign ambassadors when facing international pressure.
“It has to do with honour — the Iranians are trying to do anything they can not to be humiliated,” Porat told Crikey.
Porat said Iran was anticipating an Israeli response to a missile attack Iran launched on Tuesday. That rocket fire was in retaliation to Israel’s killing of several leaders of Iran-aligned armed groups.
“Iran is in a panic. They’ve avenged the killing of [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah and [Hamas leader Ismail] Haniyeh, on Iranian soil, and now they’re trying to threaten in any way they can because they’re very worried.
“They’ve seen Israel’s abilities of pinpoint intelligence, heavy bombardment and accuracy, and they’re seeing Israel working with the US. They’re shaking in their boots.”
The Foreign Affairs department responded with a statement on Monday afternoon.
“Australia makes no apology for the views it has expressed about Iran’s actions or the actions of its ambassador to Australia,” a spokesperson said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The Australian government condemned Iran’s reckless missile strikes on Israel. They were a dangerous escalation and increased the risks of a wider regional war.
“The Australian government continues to call on all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate. The destructive cycle of violence in the region must stop.”
Last week, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Iran’s ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi should be expelled from the country over comments he made praising Nasrallah, which led him to face the Foreign Affairs Department for the second time in three months.
In August, Sadeghi was confronted over comments he made saying Israelis should be removed from the “holy lands of Palestine”.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also called for Sadeghi’s removal, telling reporters last week: “Do I think the Iranian ambassador should be expelled from our country? Should he be persona non grata? Absolutely, he should.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was in Australia’s interest to maintain a diplomatic relationship with Iran.
“The government condemns any support for terrorist organisations like Hezbollah. We condemn the ambassador’s comments,” he said. “Australia has maintained a diplomatic relationship with Iran since 1968 that has been continuous, not because we agree with the regime but because it’s in Australia’s national interest.”
— with AAP
