“Australia accuses Iran of directing anti-Semitic attacks, expels envoy,” Al Jazeera, 8-26-25. “Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will also designate the IRGC as a ‘terrorist organisation’. … Albanese said Australia has also suspended operations at its embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and relocated all its diplomats to a third country. … Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, said Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, and three of his colleagues have been declared persona non grata and given seven days to leave the country. She said the move marked the first time that Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II and that the country has also withdrawn its envoy to Tehran.” A couple of other things to mention. First, Australia knew its diplomats could be taken hostage in Iran, so moved them out before the announcement–where is the UN in condemning Iran for this? Second, the news mentions the IRGC, but what that really means is the Quds Force, which is a loose component of the IRGC. Last, Australians have been held in Iran before as hostages, and for long periods. No Australian should go to Iran for the foreseeable future.
“Iran warns Europe against triggering ‘snapback’ in Geneva meeting,” Iran International, 8-26-25. “In the talks, “the Iranians gave E3 representatives very little to work with in order to get an extension of the snapback,” Axios reported citing an unnamed source.”
“Scoop: IAEA inspectors return to Iran as top security council weighs green light for inspections,” Amwaj, 8-26-25.
“Australia expels Iranian ambassador over terror attacks,” 7NEWS Australia, 8-26-25. There are more attempted and planned attacks that are not mentioned in this story–it was the length and cumulative effort by Iran that made Australia blanch.
“Iran faces ‘snapback’ of sanctions over its nuclear program. Here’s what that means,” AP, 8-26-25.
It is not that they couldn’t agree. This whole line of stories spells out that Iran is not proposing anything, their men are simply showing up at the meetings and sitting at the tables. There are no propositions from their side. It is again delay, delay, delay. “European and Iranian diplomats fail to agree on how to avoid reviving UN sanctions,” Euronews, 8-26-25. Then we read “Iran says ‘negotiating with all our might’ to prevent sanctions snapback,” Times of Israel, 8-26-25 and you realize Iran says something in public that is absolutely not true.
“Iran vows reciprocal action after Australia expels ambassador,” Al Jazeera, 8-26-25. It is almost always ironic in diplomacy to see how these things work out. Country A does something bad, Country B expels Country A’s diplomats, and Country A then expels B’s diplomats. The bad actor gets two kisses at the pig.
“Influential Iranian leader alleges Russian treachery,” Eurasianet, 8-26-25. “Describes Tehran’s strategic partnership with the Kremlin as “worthless”” by informing Israel of Iranian air defenses.