The perpetrators, 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, were killed following the shooting. An ISIS flag recovered from their vehicle and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's confirmation that the pair "acted alone and expressed allegiance to ISIS" appeared to establish a clear motive. Yet, within hours, attention shifted toward Iran.
The Jerusalem Post published an editorial titled "If Iran was behind Bondi Beach terror attack, Israel's response must be decisive," which argued that should Israeli and Australian investigators establish Iranian complicity, "Israel's response must be swift and severe." The editorial acknowledged, however, that "it must be ironclad proof, not circumstantial convenience."
Critics argue that the current evidence pointing toward Iranian involvement remains precisely that—circumstantial at best.
The primary arguments advanced for Tehran's involvement include Iran's documented role in previous Australian arson attacks, a social media post by the son of a former Iranian ambassador, and what some characterized as a "cynical" Iranian diplomatic response. Additionally, observers noted that Naveed Akram's shooting proficiency suggested professional training, leading to speculation about state actor involvement.
However, none of these elements constitute direct evidence of operational control, funding, or coordination between Tehran and the attackers.
Iran has condemned "terror violence and mass killing," though critics noted the statement failed to mention antisemitism specifically. Some Iranian state media coverage framed the attack through the lens of the Israel-Hamas conflict, drawing sharp criticism. Yet offensive commentary, however reprehensible, does not establish operational involvement.
Australian security officials have maintained a more measured approach. While not ruling out any possibilities, investigators emphasized that the evidence currently points toward an ISIS-inspired attack by two individuals acting independently.
The distinction matters significantly. Misattributing the attack could escalate regional tensions, potentially triggering military responses based on insufficient evidence. The Jerusalem Post editorial itself stressed that Israel must rely on "irrefutable evidence so that there is no doubt of Iranian involvement."