After demanding Iran recall its top diplomat for working to undermine its authority, the Lebanese government appears prepared to allow him to remain in the country as a private resident.
Mohammad Reza Sheibani’s visa expired on Monday, marking a new phase in a dispute between Lebanon and Iran that began five months ago when the Lebanese Foreign Ministry declared him “persona non grata,” a diplomatic designation that typically requires an official to leave the country.
A government source told MBN that Sheibani “no longer has any official or diplomatic status in Lebanon” but didn’t dispute that the former ambassador may be allowed to stay in the country.
At the heart of the dispute is an effort by Lebanese leaders to reduce Iran’s political influence in the country, particularly through its support for Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. In March, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi withdrew his approval of Sheibani’s accreditation and gave him until March 29 to leave Lebanon. Iran refused to comply.
Political analyst Elias al-Zoghbi told MBN that granting Sheibani residency “touches the core of Lebanese sovereignty” and, in his view, entrenches Iranian influence over Lebanese decision-making.
Raggi based his decision on accusations that Sheibani had violated diplomatic norms and interfered in Lebanon’s domestic politics. The violations allegedly included unsolicited assessments of government decisions and meetings with Lebanese political groups without prior approval from the Foreign Ministry.
Lawyer and political analyst Amin Mohammad Bashir said declaration of persona non grata requires the diplomat’s home country to withdraw the official.
“If the state withdrew his accreditation and declared him persona non grata, it makes no sense for it to later grant him residency that allows him to remain in Lebanon,” Bashir said.
But he said that granting Sheibani new residency as an Iranian citizen is within the authority of Lebanon’s General Security Directorate, which oversees intelligence, immigration and border security issues in the country.
Raggi’s decision immediately faced opposition from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, which is also a major Shiite political group in Lebanon. Hezbollah described it as “a reckless step, a major national and strategic mistake, and submission to external dictates lacking any legal justification.” Amal called it “a reckless and irresponsible decision by those entrusted with safeguarding sovereignty.”
Tehran also rejected the decision. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Sheibani “will continue his work,” stressing that the embassy would continue to carry out its duties.
Sheibani has, in fact, remained in Lebanon.
Charles Jabbour, the chief spokesman for Lebanese Forces, told MBN that Sheibani’s continued presence in Lebanon after being declared persona non grata constitutes “a challenge to the will of the Lebanese state and a clear violation of its decision.”
Foreign Minister Raggi said in an interview several days ago that “any talk about the continued validity of Mr. Sheibani’s visa or the possibility of renewing it has no legal standing and cannot constitute a basis for his continued presence in Lebanon.”
He added that Sheibani’s remaining in the country after being declared persona non grata “contradicts a clear sovereign decision issued by the Lebanese state,” stressing that the decision is “final and must be enforced, and allows no exception, interpretation or circumvention.”
Adapted and translated from the original Arabic.
