The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon has reportedly refused to leave the country after being declared persona non grata by the Lebanese government. According to diplomatic sources cited by Agence France-Presse, the ambassador’s decision aligns with the wishes of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the political group Hezbollah. The dispute follows Lebanon’s formal request that the ambassador depart by 29 March, 2026.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had withdrawn its approval for Ambassador-designate Mohammad Reza Sheibani and instructed Iran’s chargé d'affaires to inform him of the decision. The move prompted lawmakers from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, led by Berri, to boycott parliamentary sessions in protest.

The diplomatic standoff comes amid reports that Iran has deployed around 100 officers from its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Lebanon to help rebuild Hezbollah’s military command after heavy losses in 2024. Sources said the officers began arriving after a November 2024 ceasefire and worked to reorganize the group despite continued Israeli strikes, reflecting deepening Iranian involvement in Lebanon’s security landscape.