As Israel expands its ground operation and carries out airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran is betting it can maintain its grip on the country.
Lebanon is now seeking to expel Iran’s ambassador. Over the years, Tehran’s envoy has been accused of meddling in Lebanese politics by backing Hezbollah and helping the group entrench its control over parts of the country. Iran effectively treats Lebanon as a colony.
According to AFP, “Iran’s ambassador will not leave Lebanon despite being declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country by Sunday,” an Iranian diplomatic source said. “The ambassador will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah,” the source added. Berri, one of Lebanon’s longest-serving politicians, is a key Shi’ite leader of the Amal movement, which is allied with Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah has denounced the decision, while Berri’s Amal party joined Hezbollah ministers in boycotting a cabinet session this week in protest at the order to expel Mohammad Reza Sheibani,” AFP reported.
Sheibani, who was previously involved in Syrian affairs until the fall of the Assad regime, was appointed Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon in January 2026. He earlier served as Tehran’s top envoy to Beirut from 2005 to 2009, a period marked by Hezbollah’s growing influence, including the 2006 war with Israel and its takeover of parts of Beirut during street clashes in 2008.
Lebanon accuses Iranian ambassador of interfering in its internal affairs
According to Lebanon’s foreign ministry, the Iranian ambassador is expected to leave. He was expelled last week. The ministry accused him of making statements “interfering in Lebanon’s internal politics.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has praised the Lebanese decision. “The Lebanese authorities have banned Hezbollah’s military and security activities. It is the only armed non-state group in the country and a close ally of Iran. It has also banned the presence and operations of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) whom Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused of directing Hezbollah operations against Israel,” AFP noted in an article published at Asharq al-Awsat.
It is worth noting that Iran’s last ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani was wounded in a pager explosion in 2024. That operation also wounded thousands of Hezbollah operatives during Israel’s escalation of strikes on the group in September 2024. That was with Hezbollah, showing how deeply embedded Iran is with Hezbollah. This is a widely known fact, but the ambassador's Hezbollah pager illustrated the reality.
Iran’s decision not to allow Lebanon to expel its ambassador illustrates how the country views Lebanon as a kind of satrapy or colony. As such, the ambassador to the country is more than a diplomat. He serves as an Iranian viceroy or high commissioner in a colonial sense, helping to run Iran’s regional empire. This is how Iran has viewed Lebanon, Iraq, and some other countries. It has done this in Lebanon since the 1980s, backing Hezbollah and making sure that Hezbollah is entangled with the system in Lebanon. For instance, Hezbollah was able to create its own communications network in Lebanon and was widely believed to have a role at the airport and border crossings over the years. Hezbollah intervened in the Syrian civil war beginning in 2012, dragging Lebanon into that conflict.
This is now a test for Lebanon. Israel is expanding its ground operation, moving to take control of areas south of the Litani. Jerusalem hints it may remain in southern Lebanon for the long term. More than a million people are displaced. Israel has bombed the bridges over the Litani, saying this means Hezbollah can’t use them. It also means residents can’t return to the south. Israel’s defense minister has spoken about applying the Gaza doctrine to Lebanon, as in Beit Hanoun and Rafah, which would mean razing areas in southern Lebanon near the border.
The IDF said on March 30 that “During a targeted operation against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the troops located a weapons cache and destroyed five advanced anti-tank missiles that were intended for launch toward Israeli territory. In addition, the troops located weapons caches inside underground compounds. The weapons were dismantled immediately after their discovery by the troops.” In addition, the IDF said that “Sergeant Liran Ben Zion, aged 19, from Holon, a soldier of the 9th battalion, 401st Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon.” In another an armored corps officer was severely injured. In addition the IDF said that “two IDF soldiers were severely injured as a result of an anti-tank missile fired toward them in southern Lebanon.” Also, “an IDF soldier was severely injured, and two IDF soldiers were moderately injured as a result of a UAV that fell adjacent to them in southern Lebanon.” This shows Hezbollah is still a threat.