Iran Defies Lebanon's Ambassador Expulsion Order

Iran just straight up ignored Lebanon's order to kick out its ambassador, Muhammad Reza Shibani,

declaring him, persona non grata, to cut back on.

Tehran's influence.

The deadline was Sunday, but Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said the embassy stays

fully operational and the ambassador's sticking around in.

Beirut with diplomatic immunity.

This defiance ramps up tensions as Lebanon battles fall out from the Hezbollah Israel

war, where Hezbollah fired first at Israel in support of Iran.

Israel's invaded southern Lebanon and Bomb Beirut, killing over 1,200 people and displacing

more than 1 million.

Lebanese leaders banned military activities by both Hezbollah and Iran's revolutionary

guard earlier this month, but Hezbollah slammed it as giving in.

To outside pressure and rallied support outside the Iranian embassy.

His foreign minister called Lebanon a puppet state occupied by Iran.

Pressure from Iran on Lebanon's government and allies like parliament speaker Nabi

Hayberi tried to reverse the expulsion, while critics say, Hezbollah's power undermines

Lebanon's sovereignty and ties with Arab nations and the West.

Diplomatic pushes to end the war, and disarmed non-state groups like Hezbollah now look even

shakier with internal rifts boiling over between rivals.

Being Lebanon caught in the tighter squeeze between Tehran and its neighbors, that's

the story for today.

Canada News Today, Driven by AI, I'm Cory with the Story.