7NEWS can reveal Iran’s Ambassador to Australia has been hauled in by the government for a dressing down over inflammatory comments praising the slain leader of terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, but Anthony Albanese is refusing to expel the diplomat. Tehran’s top diplomat, Ahmad Sadeghi, was called into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra on Friday over his social media posts on X, where he called dead terrorist leader, Hassan Nasrallah, an “outstanding standard-bearer”, “unparalleled leader”, and a “blessed martyr”.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE:Iran’s ambassador to Australia hauled in by the government.
7NEWS understands the meeting with senior foreign affairs officials was blunt, with the ambassador reminded of his obligations to respect Australian law and stay out of our domestic politics.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Sadeghi has also labelled Israel a “criminal Zionist state”, comments that have enraged Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who has called for his immediate expulsion from Australia.
“I think the comments by the Iranian ambassador are completely and utterly at odds with what is in our country’s best interest,” Dutton said at a press conference on the Queensland election campaign trail.
“The prime minister and foreign minister should show strength of character and expel him from our country.”
Albanese has condemned the comments but will not go as far as Dutton is asking, as the government wants to keep diplomatic channels open with Tehran during this period of conflict in the Middle East.
“The govt condemns any support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah, and we condemn the Ambassador’s comments,” the prime minister said.
“Australia has maintained a diplomatic relationship with Iran since 1968 that has been continuous 13 not because we agree with the regime, but because it is in Australia’s national interest.”
Albanese claims to have taken the toughest stance on Iran of any government in Australia’s history.
Australia has sanctioned senior officials including Iran’s defence minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Qods Force, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani.
Others sanctioned include Iranian business people and companies that have contributed to the development of Iran’s missile and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programs.