New Zealand condemns 'lethal plotting' by Iran in joint statement

New Zealand has condemned what it calls "lethal plotting" and other "malign actions" by Iran in Europe, North America and Australia.

In a joint statement with 21 other countries, New Zealand has condemned Iran's "attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people".

The statement was released by the US State Department on behalf of the US, UK, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.

"We condemn the recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests, claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) and supported by their intermediaries," the statement said.

The countries said the attacks "must stop immediately".

HAYI reportedly claimed responsibility for several recent attacks targeting Jewish communities in the UK.

The group reportedly appeared online in March - shortly after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran.

It had been described as a "shadowy, pro-Iran group" and had also claimed responsibility for attacks in Belgium, the Netherlands and a foiled attack on a Bank of America Office in France.

According to CNN, the name roughly translated from Arabic was "The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right(eous)".

"We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now," the statement from the 22 countries said.

The statement concluded by commending the work of countries to counter these activities.

"We are together resolved to undertake further measures to halt them," the countries said.

The collective statement also mentioned the "long-standing relationship between the Iranian security services and international and local criminal groups", and called the use of such groups "deplorable".

Australia expelled its Iranian Ambassador in August, after intelligence agencies there accused the country of directing anti-Semitic attacks against Australia's Jewish community.

Australian authorities said they'd traced the funding of local criminals who set fire to a synagogue in Melbourne to Tehran, but said those charged with the crime were likely unaware of the source of the directions.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters at the time condemned Iran's "state-sponsored" attacks, but did not follow Australia's lead in expelling New Zealand's Iranian ambassador.

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