In an extraordinary announcement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Iran directed at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia, including the firebombing of a synagogue, in an attempt to sow discord and undermine social cohesion in the country.

Iran’s ambassador has been expelled, and Australia said it would suspend operations of its embassy in Tehran.

Australia will also list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, as have the United States and Canada.

The IRGC is a branch of Iran’s armed forces, operating under Article 150 of the Iranian constitution. Established in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution and prior to the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88), the IRGC played a central role in defending Iran during the eight-year conflict with its neighbour.

Today, the IRGC comprises five main branches: the ground forces, aerospace force, navy, Basij (a paramilitary group) and Quds Force.

The Quds Force, which enjoys a high degree of autonomy, is tasked with coordinating Tehran’s support for allied groups across the Middle East. These include Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilisation Forces in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza.

Western intelligence agencies have also accused the IRGC and its affiliates of involvement in covert or destabilising activities abroad.

The UK’s security minister, Dan Jarvis,

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