Lebanon Expels Iranian Ambassador as Regional Tensions Rise

On Tuesday, Lebanon expelled Iran’s new ambassador, marking it as the fourth Arab country to take such a step within just a week. This action seems to underline a significant shift in how Iran is perceived in the region, possibly indicating a decline in its influence.

Youssef Raghi, Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister, announced that Mohammad Reza Shibani must exit the country by March 29. Beirut made this decision alongside the expulsion of Shibani himself. He had recently taken over the ambassador role after the previous ambassador was injured in an attack linked to Hezbollah last September.

The Lebanese government has also prohibited Hezbollah from carrying out military operations, and just a few days later, it reportedly ordered the arrest of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards operating within its borders.

Raghi participated in a regional officials’ meeting in Riyadh last week, where he criticized Iran for using Arab countries for its own strategic aims. He noted, “By targeting Arab and Islamic countries, Iran seeks to hijack their security and peace in exchange for its own opportunistic objectives.” Additionally, Lebanon voiced support for Kuwait and the UAE after they discovered Hezbollah-related terrorist cells.

In a related note, Saudi Arabia gave five Iranian diplomats just 24 hours to leave the kingdom, which included an attaché and embassy staff, following various Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi locations.

Qatar also took action by dismissing its military and security attaché after an Iranian strike damaged a key industrial site seen as vital for national security.

The UAE’s response has been the most forceful; it closed its embassy in Tehran on March 1 and withdrew all diplomats, condemning Iranian missile strikes on civilian areas as unacceptable violations of sovereignty.

This collective rejection of Iranian officials by several Arab nations illustrates a dramatic turnaround in regional dynamics, where Iran has long exerted influence through proxy groups.