Beirut, March 24 (SANA) Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it had withdrawn its approval for Iran’s newly appointed ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad Reza Shibani, and declared him persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, the ministry summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in Beirut, Tofiq Samadi Khoshkhoo, to inform him of the decision and requested that the ambassador depart Lebanese territory by next Sunday.
The ministry also said it had recalled Lebanon’s ambassador to Iran, Ahmad Sweidan, for consultations, citing what it described as violations of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries.
Lebanese officials had previously summoned the Iranian chargé d’affaires to protest interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
Earlier this month, the Lebanese government approved measures aimed at strengthening state sovereignty and placing all weapons under state control, including banning military or security activity by Hezbollah militia and requiring the group to hand over its weapons.
The developments come amid heightened tensions in Lebanon following exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in casualties.
F.J.
