“The ambassador will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah,” AFP reported, citing an anonymous source.
The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon reportedly refused to leave the country after being declared persona non grata by the Lebanese government, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing diplomatic sources.
“The ambassador will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah,” the source told AFP.
The report comes days after both Hezbollah and Amal (Berri’s party) politicians boycotted parliamentary sessions after the Lebanese government’s decision to expel the Iranian diplomats.
Lebanon ordered Iran’s ambassador-designate, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, to leave the country on Sunday, but the move reportedly will not materialize.
“I instructed today 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 withdraw the agrément for the designated Iranian Ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, declare him persona non grata, and request that he leave Lebanese territory no later than 29 March, 2026,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi confirmed.
People celebrate what they say is Iran’s victory, after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon June 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)
Over 100 IRGC officials deployed to Lebanon
A Reuters report on March 21 said that Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had roughly 100 officers to rebuild its military command after its heavy losses in 2024.
According to two people familiar with these IRGC activities, the overhaul was the first of its kind for Hezbollah, highlighting a direct involvement approach after the blows of the 2024 war, including the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders.
Iran’s investment seemed to pay off, getting Hezbollah back on its feet in time to enter the current war.
The two sources said IRGC officers tasked with helping Hezbollah recover arrived shortly after a ceasefire in November 2024, and set to work even as Israel continued to strike Hezbollah targets throughout the country.
Tobias Siegel and Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.
