Iranian ambassador defies Lebanon expulsion order
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Shibani, has refused to comply with a Lebanese government order to leave the country by March 29.
The defiance follows a formal declaration by Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, who designated the ambassador a ‘persona non grata’ and withdrew his credentials as part of a series of moves against Iranian influence, including the prior expulsion of IRGC officers.
Diplomatic sources told AFP on Sunday that Shibani would remain in Beirut, reportedly in line with the wishes of Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the lack of enforcement in a post on X: “Lebanon is a virtual state that is, in practice, occupied by Iran,” Sa’ar said, adding: “Lebanon will not regain its freedom until a decision is made in Beirut to confront the Iranian occupation and its proxy, Hezbollah."
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
