Beirut, Lebanon – Diplomatic reports indicate that Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, will not leave the country despite the expiration of the deadline set by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants for his departure.
This follows the decision to withdraw his accreditation and declare him persona non grata.
This move is seen as a sign of escalating tensions in relations between the two countries.
Political pressures behind the decision
A diplomatic source stated that the decision to retain the Iranian ambassador came in response to
the wishes of Nabih Berri and Hezbollah, who had requested his continued presence.
There had also been previous calls to reverse the decision to withdraw accreditation.
This highlights the complexities of the internal political landscape and its impact on diplomatic decisions.
Lebanese authorities had officially notified the Iranian side of their decision to withdraw accreditation of the ambassador.
They also gave him a deadline of March 29 to leave the country.
Furthermore, the Ministry summoned the Iranian chargé d’affaires to inform him of the decision,
which it described as a violation of diplomatic norms.
Diplomatic tension and the possibility of escalation
In response, Beirut recalled its ambassador to Tehran, Ahmed Sweidan, for consultations amid the escalating tensions.
This move reflects the heightened tensions between the two sides.
This development comes at a time of increasing strain in Lebanese-Iranian relations.
There are also concerns about broader diplomatic repercussions.
Observers believe that the continuation of the crisis could pave the way for further political escalation.
This is occurring against a backdrop of intertwined internal and regional factors in the Lebanese landscape.
