Australian news and politics live: Iranian embassy staff flee embassy in the dark of night after expulsion

Iran’s top diplomat to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi has been spotted leaving the embassy in Canberra.

Media waiting outside filmed Iran’s envoy — who was declared “persona non grata” on Tuesday — driving off in a white Lexus sedan on Wednesday morning.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said he is the first ambassador to be booted from Australian soil since World War II.

The Albanese Government made the historic call after ASIO found the Middle East regime was behind two Anti-Semtic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney last year.

ASIO has, however, ruled out any direct involvement by the ambassador himself.

While initially thought Mr Sadeghi had seven days to leave Australia, he was only given a 72 hour deadline — meaning he’s expected to fly out by Friday morning.

Three other diplomats who have also been asked to leave have been given a week’s notice.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie has claimed the Coalition had called for the group to be listed more than 10 times.

“We called for the listing of the IRGC 10 times since 2023,” Mr Hastie told ABC breakfast radio on Wednesday morning.

“We’re glad it’s happened. We think it’s a little bit late, but nonetheless, this is the right move in the national interest.

Mr Hastie said when Coalition were in Government under then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison, he had flagged as chair of the Intelligence and Security committee that the group was a threat.

When asked if he raised it directly with Mr Morrison, the Liberal MP said he “put it through the right channels” but no action was taken.

“I had discussions with members of the committee, including Labor members who wanted to list at the time,” he said.

The Prime Minister can barely get on a stage or an FM radio station these days without facing questions about his upcoming wedding to partner Jodie Haydon.

This morning, he’s asked at the Bush Summit in Wagga Wagga whether he’s got any advice for newly engaged Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

“I think that Tay-Tay’s wedding will probably be bigger,” Anthony Albanese says, laughing.

“At a time when, you know, you pick up the paper … any paper in the world, and there’s a lot of negative news, that’s the nature of news. It’s fantastic, people falling in love. It’s great. Good luck to them.”

Liberal Senator and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma described prescribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an official terrorist organisation as “overdue” but welcome.

He told Sky News on Wednesday that Iran was “in the business of exporting terror”, adding “that’s their state model”. He also called for the Albanese Government to “look at taking further action”.

“In international relation terms, this is about as serious and grave as it gets,” Senator Sharma said.

Senator Sharma said while nations should try to “preserve diplomatic ties” for “as long as you can” the revelations from ASIO showed action needed to be taken.

He added that Iran’s top diplomat to Canberra Ahmad Sadeghi previous public remarks were “at odds” with Australia society standards and claimed he was “exceeding the boundaries of his normal role”.

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Liberal Senator Jane Hume said it was “surprising” the Albanese Government took so long to expel Iran’s top diplomat to Canberra Ahmad Sadeghi and list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an official terrorist organisation.

Speaking on Sky News on Wednesday Senator Hume said while the Coalition would back any legislation to prescribe the branch of Iran’s military, she questioned why it took until attacks on home soil.

Referring to recommendations from a Parliamentary inquiry in February 2023 and the Coalition’s calls in October 2024, she said the Government knew the risks Iran posed.

“They knew the risk was there, it was in black an white. Why the Government hasn’t acted earlier, is up to them to explain,” Ms Hume said.

Anthony Albanese says the orchestration by Iran of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia was “clearly aimed at disharmony” and an attack on the nation’s social fabric.

The Prime Minister denied Australia’s intelligence networks had failed because they hadn’t picked up the foreign interference before the attack occurred.

“In fact, this is a rather extraordinary intelligence success by ASIO and the Australian Federal Police,” he told ABC radio.

“In today’s world where things are often done on the dark web, but where you have encrypted messages, cryptocurrency as transfers, you have a complex situation here, and it’s an extraordinary effort by ASIO and the AFP to be able to trace the chain of command, if you like, right back to the IRGC through to the people who perpetrated these criminal acts.”

Iranian diplomats have fled the Canberra embassy under the cover of night in extraordinary scenes not witnessed in Australia since World War II.

The departure came just hours after Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi was expelled and several other diplomats were ordered to leave within seven days.

Photographs captured the historic moment, with cameras flashing as three men in the back seat of a car tried to conceal their faces with jackets, while another man waved goodbye on Tuesday night.

Australia’s Defence Minister has secured a last-minute meeting with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth and US Vice President JD Vance in Washington.

“The Alliance between Australia and the United States is longstanding, built on our shared history of deep collaboration,” Mr Marles captioned a photo of himself standing next to the duo.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to building on this partnership with US VP JD Vance and Secretary of Defense PeteHegseth in Washington DC today.”

Their meeting follows speculation that Australian officials had been scrambling to arrange talks after a scheduling mix-up.

The US trip comes as the Pentagon conducts a review into the trilateral AUKUS pact to see if it aligns with President Donald Trump’s AMercia-first focus. Under the deal, Washington is scheduled to provideAustralia with at least three Virginia class submarines from the early 2030s.

It’s understood Mr Marles will also meet with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush has provided details about suspected gunman Dezi Freeman, who has been on the run since allegedly shooting three police officers on Tuesday, with two passing away.

“We believe he has long arms, powerful firearms. Multiple firearms. We haven’t recovered any of his firearms from the scene. So we believe the firearms he used, he is still in possession of,” he said.

When asked about the overnight search in bad weather conditions: “It was tough going for all of our people. But they’re absolutely determined and focused on finding this person,” he said.

“They are oblivious to those conditions when they have a mission.

“Our understanding of him is he understands bush craft well. Which provides a challenge for us. But we keep an absolutely open mind on what options are open to him.”

Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush is addressing the media as they continue to search for a man suspected of shooting two police dead at Porepunkah in rural Victoria.

Dezi Freeman’s partner and children were located by police overnight.

“The family are distraught, as you can imagine,” he said.

“But we’ll put every support around those good people. Our officers come to work every day to keep their communities safe. We always live with the knowledge the worst could happen. But we don’t expect it to.

“There’s two key things going on at the moment. One is the crime scene investigation. We’ll remain at that address. We’ll remain there very well armed and equipped if he’s to return.

“And we’ll continue to focus on the densely populated bush area and other dwellings in that location.”