Lebanon’s Foreign Minister has reiterated Beirut’s decision to expel the Iranian ambassador, stating that normalizing diplomatic relations with Iran’s mission in Lebanon is only possible if Tehran complies with the official ruling of the Lebanese government.
Speaking to An-Nahar, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the continued presence of Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Rauf Sheibani in Beirut directly violates Lebanese sovereignty. Raggi stated that the decision permits “no reinterpretation, exceptions, or compromises.”
Raggi had previously declared Sheibani persona non grata and ordered him to leave Lebanese territory. In March 2026, the Lebanese government revoked the credentials of the incoming Iranian ambassador and set a deadline for his departure from the country.
Tehran, however, rejected the ruling. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Sheibani would remain at his post in Beirut and stay in Lebanon despite the order.
