Protesters hold up a banner criticizing the Lebanese authorities and their decision to expel the Iranian chargé d'affaires, during a demonstration on Nov. 25, 1983, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, called by the "Gathering of Muslim Ulama." (Credit: Ibrahim Tawil/L’Orient-Le Jour's archives)
On March 26, 2026, a sense of déjà vu lingered. In Beirut’s southern suburbs, about 100 supporters of Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran gathered to show support for Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shaibani.The Lebanese authorities had declared him persona non grata this week and accused Tehran of interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs through its ally Hezbollah, amid a renewed war with Israel that began on March 2. Our editorial Chronicle of a surrendering state The diplomat must leave Lebanese territory no later than Sunday, March 29, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry told L’Orient Le Jour.Forty-three years ago, Lebanon, during its civil war, already complained about interference from the mullah’s regime that came to power in 1979. On Nov. 23, 1983, Wazzan’s government had decided to expel Iran’s chargé d’affaires at the...
On March 26, 2026, a sense of déjà vu lingered. In Beirut’s southern suburbs, about 100 supporters of Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran gathered to show support for Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shaibani.The Lebanese authorities had declared him persona non grata this week and accused Tehran of interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs through its ally Hezbollah, amid a renewed war with Israel that began on March 2. Our editorial Chronicle of a surrendering state The diplomat must leave Lebanese territory no later than Sunday, March 29, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry told L’Orient Le Jour.Forty-three years ago, Lebanon, during its civil war, already complained about interference from the mullah’s regime that came to power in 1979. On Nov. 23, 1983, Wazzan’s government had decided to expel Iran’s chargé...
