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Lebanon expels Iran's ambassador — persona non grata, must leave by March 29

·Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon declared Iran's designated Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani persona non grata and ordered him to leave Lebanese territory by 29 March 2026. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi summoned the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires to deliver the formal expulsion — the clearest rupture yet between Beirut and Tehran amid the regional war.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi formally expelled Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Shibani, declaring him persona non grata on Day 25. Raggi posted on X: '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.' Lebanon has been drawn into the war by Iran's proxy Hezbollah, which refused the Lebanese government's demands to disarm and continued attacking Israel, leading to an intense IDF bombing campaign, ground operations in southern Lebanon, and displacement of over one million Lebanese civilians. The expulsion marks Lebanon's most explicit diplomatic break with Iran since the conflict began and signals that the Lebanese government is attempting to separate itself from Hezbollah's war.
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Actor responses

IranOPPOSINGDIPLOMATIC

Iran's Ambassador Shibani declared persona non grata by Lebanon, ordered to leave by March 29. The expulsion reflects Lebanon's attempt to distance itself from Hezbollah and Iran as IDF operations and displacement devastate the country.

HezbollahOPPOSINGPOLITICAL

Beirut's expulsion of Iran's ambassador undercuts Hezbollah's state-within-a-state status. The Lebanese government is signaling a break with the Iranian patron whose proxy war has devastated the country and displaced over one million Lebanese.

HezbollahOPPOSINGPOLITICAL

Hezbollah calls Lebanon's expulsion of Iran's ambassador a 'national and strategic sin' and demands the president and prime minister require the foreign minister to 'immediately reverse' the decision. 'Hezbollah calls on the president of the republic and the prime minister to demand that the minister of Foreign Affairs… immediately reverse this decision because of its dangerous repercussions.'

Sources

T1Times of Israel9% reliability