Khaberni - An Iranian diplomatic source - for the French Press Agency - reported that the appointed Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani will remain in Lebanon after the deadline given by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for him to leave the country has ended today, Sunday, following their withdrawal of approval for his accreditation.
The Iranian diplomatic source - who preferred to remain anonymous - said "the ambassador will not leave Lebanon in accordance with the wishes of the Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri and Hezbollah."
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it had informed the Iranian ambassador - who began his duties in late February/February last - that approval for his accreditation had been withdrawn, and demanded that he leave by no later than next Sunday," before later stating in a statement that their decision does not mean severing diplomatic relations with Iran, but "it is a measure against the ambassador for violating diplomatic norms and obligations as an ambassador appointed in Lebanon."
This step comes as part of a series of unprecedented measures taken by the Lebanese authorities since the start of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, and after Lebanese officials accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard of managing Hezbollah's operations in the war with Israel.
Both Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have condemned the Foreign Ministry's announcement of the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, urging officials to retract it, while four ministers affiliated with the two parties boycotted the Lebanese Cabinet session last Thursday in protest against the authorities' decision.
Although the Lebanese authorities had directed on March 5th to prevent any potential activities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said last week - in a television interview - that "the Revolutionary Guard is present in Lebanon and unfortunately manages - the war process."
Following the outbreak of the war, the government also banned the security and military activities of Hezbollah, which affirms its readiness for "a prolonged confrontation" with Israel amid the current battles on the Lebanese front between the party and Israel.
It is noteworthy that the war in the Middle East extended to Lebanon on March 2nd after Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel in response to the assassination of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the American-Israeli attack on Iran, while Israel continues to launch broad air strikes on Lebanon and its forces penetrate its south.
