Iran summons Australian charge d’affaires over "illegal sanctions"

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Australian charge d’affaires to Tehran after Canberra imposed sanctions on several top officials and entities of the Islamic Republic.

The Ministry summoned the diplomat on May 15 to lodge a strong protest by the Islamic Republic over the “irresponsible act” by Australia to impose the “illegal and unjustified” sanctions, as reported by IRNA, citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The Australian diplomat was told that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to reciprocate.

The diplomat said that Iran’s stance would be conveyed to the government in Canberra.  

On May 14, the Australian government imposed “targeted sanctions” on five senior Iranian officials and three entities over what it called “Iran’s destabilizing behaviour” in the West Asia region.

The officials include Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Qods Force Brigadier General Esmail Qaani.