HIGHDIPLOMATICVERIFIED
Iran's ambassador defies Lebanon expulsion — stays at direction of Berri and Hezbollah, challenging Lebanese government
·Beirut, Lebanon
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani will not leave the country despite being declared persona non grata and given a today deadline, an Iranian diplomatic source tells AFP. He is defying the order 'in accordance with the wishes of Nabih Berri (Amal/parliament speaker) and Hezbollah.' Lebanon's government had accused him of interfering in internal politics. Hezbollah and Amal are boycotting cabinet. France called the expulsion 'a courageous decision.'
Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani will not comply with Lebanon's expulsion order, an Iranian diplomatic source told AFP. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry had issued the persona non grata declaration after accusing Sheibani of making statements interfering in Lebanon's internal politics; he was given until today (March 29) to leave. The source said he is staying 'in accordance with the wishes of parliament speaker Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah,' who have denounced the expulsion decision. Berri's Amal movement joined Hezbollah ministers in boycotting a cabinet session this past week in protest at the order. The defiance exposes a fundamental split in Lebanese governance: the PM (Nawaf Salam) and FM acting to enforce Lebanese sovereignty by expelling the ambassador, while Berri and Hezbollah use their blocking power to prevent compliance. Lebanon had also banned Hezbollah's military activities and barred IRGC operations, with PM Salam accusing IRGC of directing Hezbollah operations against Israel. France FM Barrot called the original expulsion 'a courageous decision.'
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