CANBERRA — In an unprecedented move, Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador and three diplomatic staff members following an investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) that linked Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to two antisemitic arson attacks. The decision, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, marks the first time since World War II that Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador, a powerful declaration of aggression against a foreign state for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil.
As the political repercussions reverberated across the capital, a more intimate drama was unfolding within the official residence of one of the diplomats slated for expulsion. Inside the stately home, the quiet evening was shattered by the weight of the news.
“Donia, Rao, come down,” Abdul, a senior diplomat, called from the ground floor. His wife, Dina, stood beside him, her face strained. The soft murmur of their 11-year-old daughter, Donia, and 5-year-old son, Rao, was heard as they descended the stairs.
“Mom, Dad, what’s the matter?” Rao asked, a playful innocence in his voice that felt profoundly out of place.
Dina knelt to his level. “We’re going back to Tehran tomorrow.”
The words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the familiar comfort of their life in Canberra. Donia’s immediate reaction was one of practiced fear. “Aren’t we going to get arrested? That’s why we always keep our pajamas and toothbrushes by our beds.”
Abdul’s voice was firm, though a tremor of unease was visible in his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. We need to get out of Australia before that happens.”
“Why?” Donia pressed, her brows furrowed in confusion. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”
Dina stepped in, her tone softer. “Dad’s work means we’re going back to Iran tomorrow. It’s a change of plans.”
Abdul offered a forced smile to his young son. “Rao, we’ll be on a plane tomorrow. It’ll be fun.” The boy’s cheerfulness, “Yay!”, was a painful echo of a normal life they were no longer living.
The security of their departure was already in motion. A voice crackled over Abdul’s walkie-talkie: “Ready to leave. You can go at any time.”
As Dina sent the children back upstairs for the night, the facade of normalcy cracked. Donia looked at her mother, her small face a mixture of anger and sadness. “Mom, I don’t want to live like this anymore. What should I tell my friends?”
“Donia, don’t be selfish,” Dina replied, the words sharp with the stress of the moment. The children’s footsteps faded as they went up the stairs.
Dina turned to her husband. “So I should take tomorrow morning’s flight?”
“Yes. As long as we follow the security staff’s instructions, we’ll be fine,” Abdul said. He took her hands in his. “I’ll leave Donia and Rao to you.”
Dina pulled back, a new fear in her eyes. “When are you planning on returning?”
Abdul averted his gaze. “Actually, it’s undecided. One person has decided to stay behind. I’ll stay in Australia.”
“In that case, I’ll stay too,” Dina insisted.
“That’s not good. Trust me,” Abdul said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I will definitely return to Iran someday. When I proposed to you, I said, ‘Even if I go to the ends of the earth or sink to the bottom of the ocean, I will never let you go.’”
A flash of confusion crossed Dina’s face, replacing her fear with bewilderment. “Huh? That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that. You never said that.”
“I did. Have you forgotten? I definitely did.”
Dina’s voice was firm now, a subtle shift of power in their conversation. “Who did you tell that to?"
All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms
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