The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code.
This follows ASIO's assessment that the IRGC orchestrated cowardly attacks against Australia's Jewish community – including the fires at Lewis' Continental Kitchen in Sydney in October 2024 and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024. These attacks were designed to intimidate, sow fear and undermine Australia's multicultural society.
Legislation enabling the listing of state sponsors of terrorism commenced on 8 November 2025 through the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Act 2025.
On 27 November 2025, the IRGC became the first entity listed under this framework. Listing activates criminal offences for directing, financing, recruiting for, or otherwise supporting a state sponsor of terrorism, with penalties of up to 25 years' imprisonment.
The IRGC is a hybrid military-security organisation that operates independently from Iran's conventional armed forces and reports directly to the Supreme Leader. It has a record of conducting internal security operations and hostile overseas activities.
Under subsection 110.7(2) of the Criminal Code, the PJCIS may review a listing at any time and report its comments and recommendations to both Houses of Parliament.
Chair of the PJCIS, Senator Raff Ciccone, said:
"This is the first organisation listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under laws recently passed by the Australian Parliament".
"The Committee's review will give the Australian community an opportunity to have their say on the listing of the IRGC and ensure that appropriate processes have been followed".
Members of the public are invited to make submissions to the review by 23 January 2026.
