Lebanon declared the Iranian ambassador persona non grata on Tuesday and ordered him to leave the country by Sunday, citing violations of diplomatic norms in a significant escalation of tensions between Beirut and Tehran that drew swift condemnation from Hezbollah, which deemed the decision reckless and demanded its reversal. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry stated that the Iranian diplomat, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, had made statements about Lebanon's internal policy, evaluated government decisions, and met with unofficial Lebanese groups without prior coordination. Lebanon also summoned its ambassador to Iran for consultations over alleged diplomatic violations. In a statement, the group said the measure lacked legal basis and was reckless, arguing it does not serve Lebanon's interests, sovereignty, or unity. Hezbollah dismissed accusations that the ambassador interfered in internal affairs, calling them unfounded and politically motivated. The group warned that the timing was dangerous and urged officials to adopt a unified stance to confront Israeli attacks and pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for greater international pressure on Israel to halt its attacks and support ceasefire efforts, according to local media. “Lebanon cannot fight other people's wars on its territory,” Aoun stated, emphasizing that state authority over weapons and decisions of war and peace is non-negotiable and aligns with the Constitution and the Taif Agreement. He affirmed that the peace initiative he launched recently remains active and has regional and international backing, but requires an Israeli response to ceasefire calls.
