Iran Defies Lebanon Order to Expel Ambassador

BEIRUT — Iran announced on Monday that its ambassador to Lebanon would remain in his post in Beirut, defying a Lebanese government order to expel him and escalating diplomatic tensions in a nation gripped by conflict between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry declared Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani persona non grata last week, citing his statements on internal Lebanese politics as a violation of diplomatic norms. Officials instructed him to leave the country by Sunday, March 29, 2026, with the aim of reducing Iran's influence by limiting the embassy to a charge d'affaires. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that Shibani would continue his duties. "Our embassy in Lebanon is active," Baghaei told journalists. "Our ambassador, following remarks made by relevant Lebanese bodies and the conclusions reached, will continue his mission in Beirut and he is still there." Shibani is reportedly staying at the Iranian embassy, where he holds diplomatic immunity, and Lebanese authorities have not yet commented on next steps or potential impacts on bilateral ties.

The standoff occurs amid intensifying...