Relationship dossier
Australia
Iran
Relationship assessment
Sanctions and a 2024 diplomatic crisis have strained Australia–Iran relations.
Australia toward Iran
-45Australia has imposed sanctions on Iran in response to its nuclear activities and human-rights conduct. In 2024, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador after its intelligence agency attributed attacks on Jewish sites in Australia to the Iranian government.
Iran toward Australia
-35Iran denied Australia’s 2024 accusation that it directed attacks on Jewish sites in Australia and summoned Australia’s ambassador. Australia’s intelligence agency attributed the attacks to Iran’s government; Iran disputed the allegation.
Overall relationship
-40The relationship is marked by Australian sanctions over Iran’s nuclear activities and human-rights conduct, alongside the serious diplomatic crisis in 2024 following Australia’s attribution of attacks on Jewish sites to Iran’s government. Iran denied the allegation, leaving a major point of contention between the governments.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Australia has imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities and human-rights conduct, and in 2024 expelled Iran’s ambassador after Australian intelligence attributed attacks on Jewish sites in Australia to the Iranian government. Iran denied the accusation and summoned Australia’s ambassador. These actions mark substantial bilateral strain, though the scope of other government cooperation is unclear.
Areas of tension
- Australia’s sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities
- Australia’s sanctions related to human-rights concerns in Iran
- Australia’s accusation that Iran directed attacks on Jewish sites in Australia, which Iran denied
Key developments
Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador after attributing attacks on Jewish sites in Australia to the Iranian government; Iran denied the accusation.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and practical effects of Australia’s sanctions on Iran are unclear.
- The full extent of Iranian government involvement in the attacks cited by Australia remains disputed.