
Iranian ambassador to Lebanon defies expulsion order amid rising tensions
Lebanon declared Iran’s ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani persona non grata and ordered his departure by March 29, 2026, but AFP cited sources saying he will stay in Lebanon at the request of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah. The standoff comes amid broader Iranian involvement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, including reported IRGC officers aiding the group after 2024, and follows parliamentary boycotts by Hezbollah and Amal after the expulsion move.


