Lebanon has ordered the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador from the country on grounds of violating diplomatic obligations, while stressing that this does not constitute severing diplomatic relations with the Tehran government.
On 24 March 2026, Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it had withdrawn recognition of the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon due to violations of diplomatic customs and obligations, setting a deadline for his departure by this Sunday.
In a statement released via the platform X, Youssef Rajji, Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated:
“Today, I instructed the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our diplomatic staff abroad to summon the Iranian Deputy Ambassador to Lebanon to notify him of the decision to revoke the credentials of Mr. Mohammad Reza Chebani, the appointed Iranian ambassador, and declare him 'persona non grata,' which requires him to leave Lebanese territory by 29 March 2026.”
This action follows Lebanon's attempts to ease tensions with Israel through various measures, including banning activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and requiring Iranian migrants to obtain visas before entering the country.
Subsequently, Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that this decision does not represent a diplomatic break with Iran, stating via a post on X: “This measure targets the ambassador personally due to violations of diplomatic customs and obligations in his role as an accredited diplomat in Lebanon.”
“Ambassador Chebani made statements that constituted interference in Lebanon’s internal politics and criticized government decisions,” the statement added. “Moreover, he held meetings with informal groups in Lebanon without consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Meanwhile, Gideon Saar, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, responded positively to the news, stating on X: “This is a rightful and necessary step in response to a state responsible for violating Lebanon's sovereignty,” before urging the Lebanese government to “take serious and concrete measures against Hezbollah.”
At the same time, Iran has also expelled Lebanon’s ambassador from its country in response.
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Source:cnn