Australia’s ambassador has left Tehran after Canberra expelled Iran’s envoy last month over alleged arson attacks on Jewish sites, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday.

Axar.az informs, citing Iran International, Baghaei said Iran reduced Australia’s diplomatic presence in response. “According to diplomatic norms and laws, in reaction to Australia’s action, we have also reciprocally reduced the level of Australia’s diplomatic presence in Iran,” he said.

He called the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador “unjustified” and added: “We do not welcome the reduction in relations, because we believe there was no reason or justification for this action, and this issue will affect the relations between the two nations.”