‘The Iranians like to talk with their fist, so there will be some kind of retaliation,’ said Prof. Joseph Siracusa from Curtin University.
Beijing and Moscow are expected to tread carefully in their reaction to Australia’s expulsion of Iran’s ambassador, with analysts noting both regimes are balancing ties in the Middle East and have little interest inflaming tensions.
On Aug. 26, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the expulsion of Iran’s Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and suspended Australia’s embassy operations in Tehran, after spy agencies confirmed Iran was the chief organiser behind two anti-Semitic arson attacks.
The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said it had gathered “credible intelligence” showing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed the Oct. 20, 2024 arson incident at Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney, and the Dec. 6, 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.
The Albanese government will further list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, while Australians in Iran are being urged to leave the country now.
In response, Iran rebuked Albanese’s decision, describing Australia’s accusations as politically motivated and punishment for “the Australian people’s support for Palestine.”
Beijing and Moscow Walking a Tightrope
Regarding the likely response from the new “axis of evil” or “CRINK” countries, Carl Schuster, an instructor at the Department of History of Hawaii Pacific University, says it will be low-key.
“China and Russia are trying to walk a tight rope in the Middle East, hoping to maintain both Iranian and Israeli goodwill, so Beijing will at most issue a statement calling for countries to maintain good relations,” he told The Epoch Times.
“Russia may follow suit but is more likely to say nothing at all.
“North Korea’s response is difficult to judge. North Korea will base its response on whether it sees Australia doing something inimical to North Korea’s desires or interests. If Australia is not participating in any drills on the Korean Peninsula, then I don’t expected North Korea to say or do anything at all.”
By Cindy Li
