An Iranian diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the appointed Iranian Ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, will remain in Lebanon despite the expiration of the deadline set by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his departure following the revocation of his credentials.
اضافة اعلان
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the Ambassador "will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah."
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last Tuesday that the Iranian Ambassador—who assumed his duties in late February—had been notified of the withdrawal of his accreditation and was requested to leave the country by Sunday at the latest. In a subsequent statement, the Ministry clarified that the decision does not signify a severance of diplomatic ties with Iran, but is rather a measure against the Ambassador for violating diplomatic protocols and obligations.
Unprecedented Measures
This decision is part of a series of unprecedented measures taken by Lebanese authorities since the military escalation began, amidst accusations from Lebanese officials that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is directing Hezbollah’s operations in the confrontation with Israel.
For their part, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement condemned the Foreign Ministry's decision and demanded its reversal. In protest, four ministers affiliated with the two parties boycotted the Cabinet session held last Thursday.
Context of the Conflict
On March 5, Lebanese authorities ordered a ban on any potential IRGC activities within Lebanon. In a televised interview last week, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated, "The Revolutionary Guard is present in Lebanon and is, unfortunately, managing the military operations."
Since the outbreak of the war, the government has also prohibited Hezbollah's security and military activities. Hezbollah, in turn, has affirmed its readiness for a "long confrontation" with Israel as clashes continue on the Lebanese front.
The war in the Middle East expanded to Lebanon on March 2, following Hezbollah's rocket fire into Israel. Since then, Israel has continued extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, alongside ground incursions into southern regions.
