Lebanon expels Iran envoy amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Beirut— Lebanon on Tuesday withdrew its approval of Iran’s ambassador and ordered him to leave the country by Sunday, citing violations of diplomatic norms amid intensifying regional conflict.

Lebanon’s foreign ministry said it had declared Iranian envoy Mohammad Reza Sheibani persona non grata and instructed him to depart Lebanese territory within days.

The decision was conveyed after the ministry summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in Beirut.In a statement, the ministry said the move followed what it described as Tehran’s breach of established diplomatic practices, without providing further operational details.

Lebanon also summoned its own ambassador to Iran for consultations, signalling a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.The move comes after Beirut accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of directing Hezbollah’s military operations in its ongoing conflict with Israel, an allegation that has heightened political and security tensions within Lebanon.

The expulsion unfolds against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, now in their fourth week, which have drawn in broader regional actors.

The conflict has triggered widespread destruction in parts of Lebanon and intensified scrutiny of Iran’s role in supporting Hezbollah, a powerful armed group and political actor in the country.

The diplomatic rupture underscores mounting pressure on Lebanon’s government as it navigates internal divisions and external influences during a rapidly widening Middle East conflict.