The New Zealand Jewish Council expresses grave concern at
the confirmation that the Iranian regime was directly
involved in recent antisemitic firebombing attacks on Jewish
institutions in Australia. In addition, the Cxouncil stands
with the Australian Jewish community in both its
appreciation of the government agencies and our concern for
the implications of Iranian terror in this part of the
world. These attacks, investigated by the Australian Federal
Police, ASIO, and state police, were instigated and
supported by a foreign power intent on spreading
terror.
For many years, Jewish and Iranian communities
across Australasia have warned of the global threat posed by
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian
regime’s primary organ for orchestrating terror worldwide.
The Australian government’s decision to proscribe the IRGC
as a terrorist organisation is both welcome and
necessary.
The implications for New Zealand are clear.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
(NZSIS) 2023 Threat Environment Report specifically
identifies Iran as one of the few states conducting
persistent foreign interference here. The report highlights
Iran’s monitoring and intimidation of diaspora communities
and dissidents, as well as broader attempts to undermine
social cohesion through harassment, surveillance, and
disinformation. The 2025 report released last week also
refers to Iran’s continued and growing
interference.
While the National Terrorism Threat
Level in New Zealand remains “low” – meaning an attack
is not imminent but a realistic possibility – the SIS
warns that autocratic states, including Iran, actively use
coercive and covert means against New
Zealanders.
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“The events in Australia should serve as
a wake-up call for New Zealand,” said Moses. “While our
community draws some comfort from knowing that New
Zealand’s security agencies take these threats seriously,
we cannot assume our distance shields us from these threats.
The same regime that armed Hamas for the October 7
atrocities, funds Hezbollah and the Houthis to attack
Israel, and openly threatens nuclear annihilation, is now
shown to have targeted Jewish communities in Australasia.
The actions of the Iranian Government towards Jewish people
are not just intended to terrorise Jews, but to foment
anti-Jewish sentiment and create destabilisation within the
wider community. We urge everyone who supports democratic
values, including the right to freely and safely practise
their religion, to recognise and stand up to threats to
these values.”
New Zealand must act decisively to
ensure that foreign regimes cannot bring their campaign of
division and fear to our shores. The Council urges the New
Zealand Government to:
- Proscribe the IRGC
as a terrorist organisation, aligning with
Australia and other democratic
partners. - Strengthen intelligence and law
enforcement cooperation with Australia and other
allies to disrupt foreign-backed
extremism. - Protect vulnerable communities,
ensuring Jewish New Zealanders and other diaspora groups are
shielded from transnational terrorism, delegitimisation and
intimidation.
