Lebanon withdraws accreditation of Iran’s ambassador and orders him to leave

Did Lebanon cut diplomatic ties with Iran?

No. Lebanon said the ambassador’s accreditation was withdrawn and that he was declared persona non grata, but one report said Iran’s embassy would still be headed by a chargé d’affaires, and another said the decision did not mean diplomatic relations were ended Deccan Chronicle,Haberler.

Why did Lebanon take this step?

Lebanon said Iran had violated diplomatic norms and established practices, and multiple reports linked the decision to Beirut’s criticism of Iran’s role in Lebanon and its support for Hezbollah Cumhuriyet,Les nouvelles à tra…,NDTV,Hindu.

How did Hezbollah respond?

Hezbollah publicly condemned the move and urged Lebanese leaders to reverse it, calling it dangerous and politically motivated BFMTV,Haberler.