Protesters at a rally in support of the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, in front of his embassy, on March 26, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L’Orient-Le Jour)
The Lebanese state has just suffered a major diplomatic setback. “Our [designated] ambassador will continue to carry out his duties in Beirut,” the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated on Monday.The day before, Sheibani refused to comply with the Lebanese authorities’ expulsion order, which had given him until the end of the week to leave the country. Some context 'In accordance with the will of Berri and Hezbollah,' the Iranian ambassador will not leave Beirut An Iranian diplomatic source justified the decision by citing “the will of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah.”With Iran clearly asserting its influence, what will the state do now? For the moment, the ones seeking to prove their seriousness to the international community have issued no official response. Observers say this silence further erodes the state’s...
The Lebanese state has just suffered a major diplomatic setback. “Our [designated] ambassador will continue to carry out his duties in Beirut,” the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated on Monday.The day before, Sheibani refused to comply with the Lebanese authorities’ expulsion order, which had given him until the end of the week to leave the country. Some context 'In accordance with the will of Berri and Hezbollah,' the Iranian ambassador will not leave Beirut An Iranian diplomatic source justified the decision by citing “the will of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah.”With Iran clearly asserting its influence, what will the state do now? For the moment, the ones seeking to prove their seriousness to the international community have issued no official response. Observers say this silence further erodes the...
True. How Israel can trust a state that is no state?...
31 March 2026 22:04