Australia designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a state-sponsored terrorist organization
The Australian government announced today the designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a state-sponsored terrorist organization, under a new law that came into effect in 2025. The decision is the first of its kind taken by Canberra against an official military institution of a foreign state.
The decision was based on reports from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which linked the Revolutionary Guard to planning antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne in 2024, targeting a Jewish restaurant and the Adass Israel synagogue through local networks.
Australia had expelled the Iranian ambassador and three other diplomats in August 2024 following investigations related to those attacks. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said these Iranian activities “have no place in Australia,” while Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the designation provides police with additional tools to address such threats.
Jewish community organizations welcomed the move, considering it an important step in protecting the community.
Under the designation, financial or logistical dealings with the Revolutionary Guard are subject to restrictions and criminal penalties, placing it in the same category as previous U.S. and Canadian designations — a step viewed as one of the toughest measures Australia has taken toward Tehran in decades.
