Embassy encourages Australia-based Iranians to volunteer to help war effort | Australian security and counter-terrorism
Tehran’s embassy in Canberra is promoting a recruitment drive for a paramilitary campaign to protect Iran against US forces, while Australian federal police are also investigating the matter.
As the war approaches two months, the embassy’s website and Telegram channel posted a message this week instructing people on how to sign up for a voluntary action to fight for their country, known as the “Janfada” or “sacrifice of life” program.
The message, which was removed from the Telegram account and website after questions were sent to the embassy, caused alarm among diaspora groups; one called for the closure of the embassy, while others asserted the legality of such hiring.
The Persian translation of the message is as follows: “Access was provided through MEHKAK due to repeated requests from Iranians living abroad to participate in the ‘Cenfide Campaign’ and the difficulties experienced in accessing domestic sites. [consular services] system for Iranians who want to participate in this campaign.”
The message then gives instructions on how to register to “participate in the campaign” through the system run by the country’s foreign ministry.
Founder of the Australian United Iran Solidarity Group (AusIran), Dr. Rana Dadpour said it was “incredible” that the embassy shared its Australian recruitment drive.
Dadpour said the embassy, whose ambassador was expelled last year, should be closed.
Under Australian law, it is an offense to enter a foreign country with the intention of “engaging in a hostile activity” unless one is serving in the armed forces or armed forces of a foreign country’s government. It is also a crime to prepare to enter a foreign country with the intention of “engaging in hostile activities.” The maximum penalty for both crimes is life imprisonment.
It is also illegal to recruit a person to join the Iranian military or an organization engaged in hostile activities.
Australian federal police said they were aware of these posts.
“AFP will provide an update at the appropriate time,” a spokesman said.
Last November, the federal government listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism in response to allegations it directed attacks on Australian territory.
Iran’s “Jenfada” campaign was launched last month amid concerns that the United States might launch a ground operation against the regime. Iranian embassies abroad, including Sri Lanka, also shared messages supporting this.
Another advocacy group, the Iran Australian Monarchist Association, said supporting the campaign raised “significant legal and national security concerns”.
“Encouraging or facilitating involvement in a structure determined to be linked to a terrorist organization constitutes activity beyond diplomatic authority and incompatible with Australian laws and values,” the statement said.
The Iranian embassy in Canberra has been contacted for comment.
In August 2025, Australia deported Tehran’s ambassador to Canberra, Ahmad Sadeghi, after the country’s domestic spy agency concluded that Iran had directed at least two anti-Semites against Australia’s Jewish community.
Asio said he had reliable information that Iran was behind the attacks on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis’s Continental Kitchen in Sydney’s Bondi.
The new laws, drafted in response to Asio’s findings, make it an offense to direct the activities of, recruit, recruit or provide support to a state that sponsors terrorism.
An Australian government spokesman said it did not comment on individual matters.
However, the spokesman said listing the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism amounted to “certain agreements with the Eastern IRGC”, including membership or provision of resources, and constituted criminal offences.
