Lebanon declares Iran’s ambassador persona non grata, orders him to leave by Sunday

Lebanon declared Iran’s ambassador-designate Mohammad Reza Sheibani persona non grata on Tuesday, giving the appointed figure until Sunday to leave the country, The Jerusalem Post writes.

Lebanon’s foreign ministry summoned the Lebanese ambassador to Iran for consultations, citing what it described as Tehran’s violation of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries.

Sheibani was only appointed to the role in February and had not yet presented his credentials, though he had served in the same role in the 2000s.

The decision comes after a week of meetings between Lebanese officials and regional leadership, many of whom have been on the receiving end of Iran’s missile and drone attacks.

Last week, Lebanon’s foreign ministry stated its solidarity with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after the discovery of Hezbollah cells there, and reiterated that as of March 2, all military and security exercises by the group were banned in Lebanon.