Hezbollah calls on Lebanon to “immediately reverse” Iran ambassador's expulsion

• Lebanon declared the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, persona non grata and ordered him to leave by Sunday, accusing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) of violating sovereignty by directly commanding Hezbollah operations.
• Hezbollah condemned the move as a "national and strategic sin" and demanded an immediate reversal, with a party source stating they would treat the order as non-existent and encourage the ambassador to remain in Beirut.

Hezbollah on Tuesday called the decision by Lebanon's foreign ministry to expel the newly appointed Iranian ambassador a "sin", and demanded the authorities "immediately reverse" the move.

"Hezbollah calls on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister to demand that the Minister of Foreign Affairs... immediately reverse this decision because of its dangerous repercussions," the Iran-backed group said in a statement, calling the move a "national and strategic sin".

The foreign ministry had earlier given the Iranian diplomat until Sunday to leave the country.

The decision follows unprecedented steps taken by Lebanese authorities amid Hezbollah’s involvement in a destructive new war with ‘Israel’.

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday informed Mohammad Reza Sheibani, who began his duties in late February, that his accreditation was being revoked and he must depart Lebanon by the coming Sunday.

Officials accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard of directing Hezbollah operations against ‘Israel’.

Hezbollah’s statement described the measure as “a reckless and condemnable step that does not serve Lebanon’s highest national interests, sovereignty, or national unity.”

A Hezbollah source told AFP that the foreign minister’s decision “violates basic diplomatic norms and insults the Shiite community in Lebanon.”

The source added that the party would request the ambassador to remain in Beirut, treating the decision as if it had never been issued.

The Foreign Ministry clarified that the decision does not cut diplomatic relations with Iran but is a measure against the ambassador for breaching diplomatic principles and interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

Officials said Sheibani made statements that “interfered with Lebanese politics and challenged decisions made by the government.”

Earlier this month, Lebanon recalled the chargé d’affaires of the Iranian embassy after the Revolutionary Guard launched a coordinated missile attack on ‘Israel’ alongside Hezbollah.

On March 5, authorities banned any potential Revolutionary Guard activities in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam later told television that the Revolutionary Guard “is present in Lebanon and unfortunately running the military operations.”

Following the outbreak of hostilities, the Lebanese government also prohibited Hezbollah’s military and security activities.

Hezbollah maintains that it is prepared for a “long confrontation” with ‘Israel’, which it describes as an “existential battle,” and will not allow ‘Israel’ to achieve its objectives.