Australian parliament clears path to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation

Australia’s Parliament has passed new counterterrorism legislation allowing the federal government to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, following confirmation from intelligence agencies that the Iranian regime directed two antisemitic attacks in Australia’s largest cities.

The Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025, introduced by the Albanese Government in October, passed the Senate without amendment on 6 November. The law enables foreign state entities to be designated as sponsors of terrorism, making it a criminal offence to fund, support or associate with them.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated that the Government had acted decisively to protect Australians from foreign-backed extremism. “The first priority of our government is the safety and protection of all Australians, which is why we have acted decisively in passing this vital legislation through the Parliament.”

“This legislation is a warning that foreign states and their supporters who seek to fuel division, create fear, erode social cohesion and perpetrate violence in the Australian community will be held to account. These changes will make it more difficult, more risky, and more costly for malicious foreign actors to seek to cause Australia and our community harm.”

The new law was drafted after “credible intelligence” revealed that the IRGC orchestrated arson attacks on Jewish targets in 2024. The legislation followed a dramatic August press conference at which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, joined by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess and senior ministers, announced that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard was behind the firebombings of Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Sydney and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.

ECAJ President Daniel Aghion described the new law as a “vital step” towards fulfilling the Government’s pledge to list the IRGC, following confirmation in August of Iran’s role in the synagogue and restaurant attacks.

“Although it was the Jewish community that was targeted in such a callous and calculated way, by a ruthless and violent foreign force simply because of who we are, these crimes presented a danger to all Australians,” he said. “The ECAJ has been calling for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organisation since 2022.”

Aghion said the IRGC’s operations extended far beyond the Middle East. “The IRGC’s purpose is not only to entrench the Ayatollahs’ theocratic rule in Iran but also to export Islamic revolution regionally and globally,” he said.

“The IRGC acts through terrorist proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah and, more insidiously, through a vast economic and cultural network which reaches many parts of the world, such as universities, the media and social media.”

“It is a supremely malevolent organisation that seeks to impose an alien and repugnant way of life on Australia and other Western democracies. We commend the Government and the Parliament for demonstrating resolute opposition to the IRGC and the necessary determination to put a stop to its activities on Australian soil.”

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said the legislation fulfilled a long-standing community call to recognise the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

“For several years, AIJAC has been calling for the listing of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s Criminal Code, and to amend the Criminal Code to allow the Government to do so if required,” he said. “While it is regrettable that it took two antisemitic attacks in 2024, only publicly attributed to the IRGC on August 26, to reach this point, AIJAC commends the Government for moving so quickly to ensure the legislation passed both houses of Parliament in 29 days.”

“AIJAC now urges the Government to move just as quickly to implement the legislation and list the IRGC as the 32nd terrorist organisation designated under the Criminal Code, joining our allies the United States and Canada,” he said.

“Hopefully, the Government’s move will inspire European Union member states and the UK to amend their respective laws, if necessary, and designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation, something called for by many of their own politicians and officials.”

The ECAJ said the legislation recognised that Iran’s threat extended beyond the Jewish community. “Although the Jewish community was the target, these crimes were an attack on all Australians and on our national sovereignty,” Aghion said. “By acting decisively, Australia has demonstrated that it will not tolerate foreign interference or terrorism of any kind.”

Internationally, the IRGC is known for its vast intelligence network and its influence across Iran’s political, economic and military structures. Its elite Quds Force trains and funds militant proxies including Hezbollah, Hamas, and various Shia militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Founded in 1979 by Iran’s first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the organisation was created to defend Iran’s Islamic regime and has since extended its reach across the Middle East and beyond.

Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad last month named Sardar Amar as the IRGC commander responsible for the Australian attacks. Mossad said the incidents formed part of Iran’s broader campaign to target Israeli and Jewish interests worldwide since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.

“Thanks to intensive operations by the Mossad, together with intelligence and security agencies in Israel and around the world, dozens of attack channels promoted by Iran have been thwarted,” the agency said.

Security analysts have described the legislation as one of the most significant expansions of Australia’s counterterrorism framework in recent years. The measure allows the Government to target state-backed terrorism, not just non-state actors such as al-Qaeda or Islamic State. It also brings Australia into closer alignment with allies, including the United States and Canada, both of which have already listed the IRGC.

Once the IRGC is formally listed, providing it with funds, services or material support will be a criminal offence. Officials have indicated that the listing process is already under consideration and could follow soon after the bill’s assent.

ECAJ President Daniel Aghion stated that the Government’s action was “a clear statement that Australia will not allow violent extremism and foreign interference to endanger its citizens or undermine its democracy.”