Lebanon's Foreign Ministry declared Iran's ambassador to Beirut persona non grata on Tuesday, ordering him to leave the country by the end of the week. The decision to expel Iran's ambassador is the clearest sign yet of deteriorating relations between Lebanon and Iran. The decision raises tensions within Lebanon over the role of Tehran and its Lebanon-based ally, the militant Hezbollah group. The move to expel Iran's ambassador to Lebanon reflects the deep divisions in Lebanon between a Western-backed coalition and another that is led by Hezbollah and supported by Iran.
The decision is the latest step taken by Lebanon's government against Iran after the most recent Israel-Hezbollah war broke out on March 2. During the Israel-Hezbollah war, Israel's military killed several members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard in strikes around Lebanon. According to multiple reports, Hezbollah triggered the latest war by firing rockets into Israel two days after Israel and the United States began their attacks on Iran, in which they killed top Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah said one of the reasons it attacked Israel was to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hours after Hezbollah fired rockets on March 2, triggering the war, Salam's government declared all military activities by the Iran-backed group illegal. The Lebanese government ended visa-free entry to Lebanon for Iranian citizens. Even before the resurgence of war between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon had made moves to reduce Iran's influence, including banning Iranian commercial planes from landing at the Beirut airport for over a year.
It is not the duty of the Lebanese to avenge Khamenei's killing.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Iran's Revolutionary Guard is commanding Hezbollah's operations in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the firing of missiles toward Israel threw Lebanon into a broad confrontation that the Lebanese government was not willing to get involved in. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it is not the duty of the Lebanese to avenge Khamenei's killing. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Iranian operatives in Lebanon use fake IDs and passports to move around. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the IRG was behind the firing of drones from Lebanon toward the Mediterranean island of Cyprus earlier this month. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said after the emergency Cabinet meeting in early March that only the state should decide on matters of war and peace. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on security agencies to prevent the firing of missiles or drones from Lebanon and detain those behind the launch. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Hezbollah should hand its weapons over to the state.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited Beirut on Monday for talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X that he was in Beirut to convey Italy's solidarity following Israel's unacceptable attacks against the civilian population. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for dialogue between Lebanon and Israel and a necessary and lasting ceasefire, adding that another escalation like in Gaza must be avoided at all costs. Israel responded with massive strikes and a ground invasion. Israel's military said Monday that a massive wave of strikes in Lebanon last week killed five Hezbollah commanders, as well as more than 250 of the Iran-backed group's fighters. Italy's government summoned Israel's ambassador last week after saying Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, damaging at least one vehicle but causing no injuries.
I was there to convey Italy's solidarity following Israel's unacceptable attacks against the civilian population.
A spokesperson for Iran's armed forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, said that if Israel commits such a crime, it will force Iran to see all Israeli embassies around the world as legitimate targets. A spokesperson for the Israeli military leadership, Avichay Adraee, gave representatives of the Iranian terror regime a 24-hour deadline to leave Lebanon on Tuesday.
Another escalation like in Gaza must be avoided at all costs.
If Israel commits such a crime, it will force us to see all Israeli embassies around the world as legitimate targets.