Melbourne – Australia, has charged a second man in connection with last year’s synagogue arson in Melbourne, while its intelligence services rushed to blame Iran’s Revolutionary Guard without presenting any verifiable proof. The move has triggered sharp criticism that Canberra is echoing the West’s propaganda playbook to smear Tehran.
Younes Ali Younes, a 20-year-old from Melbourne’s northern suburbs, appeared via video link before a local court this week, facing arson and vehicle theft charges. Prosecutors allege he and others used jerry cans filled with fuel to ignite the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6, 2024. One worshipper suffered injuries, and sacred Torah scrolls sustained severe damage in the blaze.
Another suspect, 21-year-old Giovanni Laulu, faces similar charges and remains in custody. Both men are scheduled to return to court in December. Authorities have classified the attack as a terrorist act, though notably, neither man has been charged under terrorism legislation.
Yet the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) swiftly declared the incident part of a broader operation financed and orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Officials claim they uncovered a covert funding trail routed through offshore intermediaries and petty criminals. But no evidence has been released publicly to substantiate these sweeping allegations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seized on the intelligence briefing to announce the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador, Australia’s first such action since World War II. Canberra also closed its embassy in Tehran, evacuated its diplomats, and signaled plans to formally list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The extraordinary measures, critics argue, were designed to appease Western allies and Israel rather than reflect proven facts.
Iran has categorically denied any involvement, calling the allegations politically motivated and another attempt by the West to vilify Tehran. Observers note the timing of Australia’s actions, which align closely with US and Israeli interests, raises questions about whether Canberra is prioritizing evidence or simply acting as a proxy in the broader Western campaign to isolate Iran.
Independent analysts point out that this pattern is not new: Western governments frequently accuse Iran of global plots while withholding verifiable details, citing “classified intelligence.” This leaves the public and media unable to assess the claims, effectively reducing them to state-sponsored propaganda rather than legitimate facts. Australia’s reliance on secrecy in this case underscores the weakness of its argument and reinforces the perception that such accusations serve political objectives rather than justice.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, ASIO insists that the Melbourne arson was part of an Iranian-directed proxy strategy. Yet neither agency nor the Albanese government has produced concrete evidence to the public, relying instead on confidential briefings and vague references to “funding trails.” As noted by multiple outlets, this mirrors a familiar Western tactic: accuse Iran loudly, escalate diplomatically, but never show proof.
