Lebanon expels Iranian ambassador as war tensions mount

Beatrice Farhat

Al Monitor

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24.03.2026

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Lebanon expels Iranian ambassador as war tensions mount

Lebanon has withdrawn the accreditation of Iran’s ambassador to Beirut amid mounting tensions over Hezbollah's involvement in the Iran war.

Beatrice Farhat

Mar 24, 2026

This picture shows the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb of Haret Hreik neighborhood on March 24, 2026. — AFP via Getty Images

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BEIRUT — Lebanon on Tuesday withdrew the accreditation of Iran’s ambassador to Beirut and declared him persona non grata in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries, which have worsened since the Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched its attack against Israel in support of Tehran earlier this month.

In a statement, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Secretary-General Abdul Sattar Issa summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires in Beirut, Tawfiq Samadi Khoshkho, to inform him of the decision against Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani.

According to the statement, Sheibani was ordered to leave Lebanon no later than Sunday, March 29.

This breaking story will be updated as it develops.

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