Australia joins G7 in condemning Iranian repression abroad
Australia joined G7 Rapid Response Mechanism members on Friday in denouncing what they described as Iran’s systematic targeting of opponents overseas.
Australia joined G7 Rapid Response Mechanism members on Friday in denouncing what they described as Iran’s systematic targeting of opponents overseas.
“Iranian intelligence services have increasingly attempted to kill, kidnap, and harass political opponents abroad, following a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of transnational repression, and clearly undermining state sovereignty,” the joint statement said.
The signatories included the G7 states—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union—alongside associate members Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. They cited Iranian efforts to intimidate journalists and Jewish communities, as well as operations to obtain and expose personal information in order to divide societies.
“The G7 RRM stands in solidarity with our international partners whose citizens and residents have also been targeted by Iran,” the statement added, pledging to continue countering foreign interference and safeguarding national sovereignty.
Canberra expelled ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi late last month following an ASIO-led investigation linking Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) to two anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney.
Separately, Canberra announced the renewal of counter-terrorism sanctions against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
“The Albanese Government has zero tolerance for foreign interference and violence in Australia,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in an X post, reiterating calls for the release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023.
Hamas is now considered one of the Iran's armed militant proxy forces in the region, alongside the Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis and a collection of Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria.
Speaking to Iran International, the lawmakers hit out at the escalation to the war in Ukraine after Poland said 19 Russian drones reportedly violated its airspace on Tuesday but were thwarted by Polish and NATO jets and air defenses.
Russia has stepped up blitzes on Ukraine in recent weeks involving hundreds of drones each and including Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones. It was not immediately clear if they were among the drones intercepted over Poland.
“Iran has, over the last several years, been a critical and active partner in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” Democrat Senator Chris Coons said.
“By providing drone technology and even producing drones inside Russia for use against Ukraine, Tehran has enabled Putin’s war machine.”
Moscow denied any intent to violate Polish airspace, saying it did not seek to strike any targets in Poland and questioning whether the drones came from Russia at all.
The Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said facts are still emerging but said Russia had erred in piercing NATO air space.
“Russia is playing with fire here. Putin has made a lot of mistakes, and this could be the worst one he’s made yet," Republican Senator James Risch told Iran International. "We’ll see how this unfolds.”
'Open conflict' near
Poland, a former member of the Eastern Bloc under Moscow's tutelage for much of the twentieth century has become a staunch Western ally and base for NATO troops as the alliance's relationship with Iran, Russia and China has soured.
The drone incursion rattled its leadership, which warned of a dire escalation.
"This is the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II, but there is no reason to believe we're on the brink of war," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament.
Iran provides drone technology to Russia for its war against Ukraine, prompting a series of punitive sanctions from the United States and European Union.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, confirmed the drones had entered Polish airspace, calling it an accident after the drones' navigation systems were jammed.
Western leaders have frequently warned against what they see as deepening security cooperation among their Eurasian adversaries Russia, Iran, China and North Korea.
After the incidents, Warsaw invoked Article 4 of NATO's charter which enables closer coordination with all NATO member states. A UN Security Council meeting to discuss the developments is scheduled for Friday.
Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus ahead of the joint Russia-Belarus Zapad 2025 military exercises, citing alleged security risks and Russian aggression.
