The head of the Arab Tawhid Party, Wiam Wahhab, criticized the way the Lebanese state dealt with the file of the Iranian ambassador appointed to Lebanon, Muhammad Reza Shibani, considering that Beirut entered into this issue “uncalculated,” at a time when the file returned to the forefront of the diplomatic debate between Lebanon and Iran.
Wahhab wrote through his account on the “X” platform: “We are surprised that official Lebanon continues to not resolve the issue of the Iranian ambassador, which Lebanon entered into unexpectedly. Iran is an important country in our region, no matter what happens to it, and you are wrong in dealing with it.”
Wahhab’s position comes in conjunction with the renewed hard-line Lebanese official positions regarding Shaybani’s stay in Lebanon, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Raji, confirmed on Thursday that the continued presence of the Iranian ambassador conflicts with “a clear, final, and enforceable sovereign decision,” stressing that the issue does not accept, according to his position, an exception or a settlement.
Raji said that the return of relations with the Iranian mission to its normal path begins with Tehran’s compliance with the Lebanese state’s decision in accordance with diplomatic principles and rules, in reference to the continuing dispute over Shaybani’s status.
On March 24, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced that it was withdrawing its approval to accredit Muhammad Reza Sheibani as Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, declaring him persona non grata, and demanding that he leave Lebanese territory no later than March 29. It also summoned Lebanon’s ambassador to Iran, Ahmed Suwaidan, for consultation at the time, and linked the decision to what it described as Tehran’s violation of the norms and principles of diplomatic dealings between the two countries.
However, the file remained open after the expiration of the deadline, and returned to the forefront as the expiration of Shibani’s visa approached on August 24. Raji stressed that the expiration of the visa does not change the essence of the Lebanese position, because declaring a diplomat persona non grata requires, according to the Foreign Ministry’s position, his departure from the host country, and the previous entry or residence permit has no effect that allows his continued presence.
The diplomatic crisis between Beirut and Tehran is due to broader disagreements in relations between the two countries during the past months, especially over what the Lebanese government considers Iranian interference in internal affairs and the arms issue outside the framework of the state.
Raji had stressed in previous correspondence with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, Lebanon’s readiness for dialogue and the establishment of constructive relations with Iran, on the condition that they be based on mutual respect for the independence and sovereignty of each country and non-interference in its internal affairs.
On the other hand, Wahhab stresses in his new position the importance of Iran in the region and the necessity of not pushing relations with it into further crisis, considering that the method of handling the ambassador’s file was not calculated and that the Lebanese authorities were wrong in their approach.
Thus, the position of the head of the Arab Tawhid Party adds a new political voice to the internal debate over managing the relationship with Tehran, at a time when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is sticking to its decision regarding Shibani, while attention is focused on what will happen by August 24, the date related to the expiration of his visa, and whether the file will witness a diplomatic solution or further escalation between the two countries.
