Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi announced on Tuesday that his country had revoked Iran’s ambassador’s accreditation, declared him persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country by March 29.
In a post on X, Raggi wrote: “Today I instructed the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to summon the Iranian chargé d’affaires in Lebanon to inform him of the decision to revoke the agrément for the designated Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani, later declaring him a persona29 not to leave the territory of Lebanon until March, 2026.”
According to Al Jazeera, the Foreign Ministry also summoned Lebanon’s ambassador to Iran, citing what it described as a violation of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries by the Islamic Republic.
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The development comes as tensions rise sharply in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February. Along with Tehran, Tel Aviv also targeted Lebanon with airstrikes and pushed forward with a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Attacks from Hezbollah began on March 2 after Tehran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of airstrikes.
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The death toll in Lebanon is rising
Citing Lebanese authorities, the report said that over 1,000 people have been killed and more than 2,800 wounded since Tel Aviv’s ground offensive began. In addition, the country saw the displacement of more than 1.5 million people after Israel ordered the evacuation of people from the southern region of the country.
On Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported that at least three people were killed in overnight attacks in Beirut. The report said: “The Israeli military said it targeted members of the Quds Force, a foreign unit of Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). This is not the first time the Israeli military has said it is targeting the IRGC in Lebanon.”
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Israel welcomes Lebanon’s decision
In a post on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed Lebanon’s decision to declare the Iranian ambassador persona non grata, writing: “I welcome the decision of the Lebanese Foreign Minister to expel the appointed Iranian ambassador from Lebanon.”
Sa’ar called it a justified and important move against Iran, a country he held responsible for violating Beirut’s sovereignty for its indirect occupation through Hezbollah. He added that the country was drawn into the war because of Tehran.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon continue
The latest Israeli offensive comes after more than a million people displaced by the 2023-2024 conflict cannot return to their homes in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces are still present in parts of Lebanese territory and ongoing airstrikes have reportedly left hundreds dead. Cross-border tensions escalated in October 2023 after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, calling it an act of support for Gaza amid Israeli bombardment.
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After nearly a year of escalating exchanges that forced thousands on both sides to flee, Israel moved into southern Lebanon. A ceasefire was reached in November 2024.
Since then, Israeli strikes have contributed to friction between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, particularly over efforts to disarm the group. Under the November 2024 agreement, Hezbollah was expected to give up its weapons while Israeli forces were to withdraw from Lebanese territory. However, Hezbollah refused to disarm, saying that Israeli soldiers must first leave their country.
On March 2, the Lebanese government banned military operations by Hezbollah.
