Iran Says Envoy Will Remain in Beirut, Defying Order to Leave

Supplied/Al Arabiya

Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani.

Iran said on Monday that its ambassador to Lebanon will remain in Beirut, defying a decision by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry declaring him persona non grata and ordering him to leave the country.

With war ongoing in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel, the status of the Iranian envoy has become a point of tension between the Iran-backed group and the Lebanese government, which has sharply criticised Hezbollah for entering the regional conflict in support of Tehran and has called for talks with Israel.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry had announced last week that it was withdrawing accreditation for ambassador-designate Mohammad Reza Shibani and requested that he leave by 29 March, accusing him of violating diplomatic norms through statements on Lebanon’s internal affairs.

However, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a senior Shiite politician and Hezbollah ally, opposed the Foreign Ministry’s decision and urged Shibani to remain in the country, according to sources familiar with his position.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said at a press briefing that Shibani would remain in Beirut.

"Considering the discussions raised by the relevant Lebanese ‌parties and ⁠the conclusions reached, the Iranian ambassador will continue his work as ambassador in Beirut and is still present there," Baghaei said.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has issued no statement on the matter since the deadline passed, and didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war on 2 March, when the Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah opened fire in support of Iran, triggering an Israeli offensive that has since killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon and displaced over one million.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government had been seeking to peacefully disarm Hezbollah, said the group’s decision to attack Israel demonstrated disregard for the majority of Lebanese people and moved to ban its military wing.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who praised Lebanon's decision last week, noted on ⁠Monday that the deadline had expired and said the Iranian ambassador "is sipping his coffee in Beirut, mocking the host 'country'".

"Lebanon is a virtual state that is, in practice, occupied by Iran," Saar wrote on X.

Source: Reuters



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