Lebanon extends visa of Iran's ambassador Sheibani following persona non grata designation - report

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani had his visa extended after it expired on Monday, despite the Lebanese government declaring him persona non grata, KAN News reported on Tuesday.

Sheibani refused orders given to him in March to leave the country after the designation, which followed a summons by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry over Iran's violations of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries.

“I instructed today the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to summon the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Lebanon to inform him of the decision to withdraw the agrément for the designated Iranian Ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, declare him persona non grata, and request that he leave Lebanese territory no later than 29 March, 2026,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi confirmed at the time.

Lebanese source: Aoun, Salam 'panicked,' 'succumbed to Iranian pressure'

According to KAN, a Lebanese anti-Hezbollah political source told Haaretz that the country's authorities "panicked and succumbed to Iranian pressure" to rescind the expulsion, namely Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Sheibani originally served as Iran's ambassador to Lebanon in the early 2000s before being reappointed to the role in February prior to the persona non grata designation.

At the time, the move to expel Sheibani was largely seen as positive by Israeli officials, with Alma Research and Education Center founder and president Lt.-Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi stressing its importance to The Jerusalem Post.

“This is very important because the Iranian embassy is traditionally known as a branch of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps)," she said. "The IRGC operated from within this embassy for many years to activate Hezbollah in Lebanon."

Zehavi added that she was "very happy" with Lebanon's decision, noting it as a "step in the right direction."

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also praised the move, describing it as a "justified and necessary step against the state responsible for violating Lebanon’s sovereignty, for its indirect occupation through Hezbollah, and for dragging it into war."

"We call on the Lebanese government to take practical and meaningful measures against Hezbollah, whose representatives still serve as ministers within it,” Sa’ar said at the time.