Introduction
On August 26, 2025, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, citing unsubstantiated claims of Iran’s involvement in antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne in 2023. This unprecedented move, the first ambassadorial expulsion since World War II, coincided with the European troika’s nuclear deadline for Iran, raising questions about its timing and motives. Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations, emphasizing that antisemitism is alien to its cultural history. Coupled with Australia’s suspension of its Tehran embassy, this action reflects a broader Western strategy to isolate Iran amid nuclear talks and the rise of a multipolar world. This article examines the expulsion as a case of hegemonic pressure, analyzing its geopolitical implications through the lens of civilizational resistance. It argues that such moves, far from curbing Iran, strengthen the Global South’s push for a multipolar order, challenging Western dominance.
Section I: The Context of the Expulsion
Australia’s decision to expel Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi was based on what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called “credible intelligence” from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), linking Iran to antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in Melbourne and Sydney in 2023. No public evidence was provided, and Albanese clarified that the diplomats were not directly involved. Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the accusations as baseless, arguing that antisemitism is a Western phenomenon absent from Iran’s history and culture.
The expulsion followed controversy over Sadeghi’s social media posts on X, including calling Israel a “Zionist plague” in August 2024 and praising Hezbollah’s late leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024. These posts fueled calls for his removal from opposition leaders and groups like the Australian Iranian Community Alliance (AICA). Australia’s subsequent suspension of its Tehran embassy and threats to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization have plunged bilateral relations to their lowest point since World War II, signaling a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions.
Section II: Geopolitical Dimensions and Western Pressure
The expulsion’s timing, days before the August 2025 nuclear deadline set by the European troika (UK, France, Germany), suggests a coordinated Western effort to pressure Iran amid stalled nuclear talks. The troika’s threat to activate the snapback mechanism by October 2025, reinstating UN sanctions, aligns with this move, framing it as part of a broader strategy to curb Iran’s regional influence. This is not an isolated incident; since 2022, Iran has faced diplomatic expulsions from Germany, Albania, and Azerbaijan over allegations of terrorism and human rights violations, often without public evidence.
Australia’s accusations lack transparency, raising suspicions of political motives. The move may deflect domestic criticism of Australia’s restrained stance on Israel’s actions, given widespread pro-Palestinian protests in Australia, with half a million people rallying for sanctions against Israel. The AICA and opposition leader Peter Dutton, who labeled Sadeghi’s posts “hate speech,” supported the expulsion, yet critics argue it risks escalating tensions without substantiation. This action mirrors Western efforts to isolate Iran, but it also underscores the limits of such tactics in a multipolar world. Iran’s pivot toward BRICS and non-Western powers like China and Russia highlights how these pressures inadvertently strengthen alternative global alignments, challenging the unipolar order.
Section III: Civilizational Resistance and Global South Resilience
Iran’s responserejecting the allegations and promising retaliation reflects a broader strategy of civilizational resistance, defending indigenous sovereignty against Western hegemony. By strengthening ties with BRICS, notably through its 2023 membership and the 25-year Iran-China agreement, Iran counters Western isolation. This resilience undermines the efficacy of diplomatic expulsions and sanctions, as Iran prioritizes self-reliance and non-Western alliances.
Australia’s expulsion, like the snapback threat, accelerates the multipolar order. By alienating Iran, the West pushes it closer to China, Russia, and other Global South nations. Iran’s insistence on peaceful nuclear enrichment and cooperation with the IAEA, contingent on mutual respect, exemplifies a diplomatic resistance that prioritizes sovereignty. This approach inspires other Global South nations to resist Western pressures through regional cooperation and economic diversification, reshaping global power dynamics.
Conclusion
Australia’s expulsion of Iran’s ambassador is less about security and more about Western efforts to maintain hegemonic control in a shifting global order. Timed suspiciously before nuclear talks and lacking public evidence, it aligns with the European troika’s snapback threats, aiming to isolate Iran. Yet, such actions backfire, strengthening Iran’s resolve and its alliances with non-Western powers. The Global South, through initiatives like BRICS, is redefining sovereignty as an inherent right, challenging the Western liberal order’s conditional framework.
A realist diplomacy, respecting national autonomy, is essential to de-escalate tensions. Australia’s move and broader Western strategies risk isolating the West from an emerging multipolar world. Iran’s resilience, rooted in civilizational resistance, underscores the need for a new approachone that prioritizes dialogue over coercion. The Global South’s growing influence demands that the West adapt to a world where sovereignty, not hegemony, defines global relations.
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