{
  "id": 3365382,
  "title": "Lebanon extends visa of Iran's ambassador Sheibani following persona non grata designation - report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/lebanon-extends-visa-of-irans-ambassador-sheibani-following-persona",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T22:44:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-906589"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lebanon has extended the visa of Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, who was declared persona non grata by the Lebanese government. The visa extension was reported by KAN News on Tuesday, after Sheibani's visa had expired on Monday. Despite being ordered to leave the country in March, Sheibani refused to comply with the Lebanese Foreign Ministry's decision, which was made following a summons over Iran's breaches of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two nations. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi confirmed the decision to withdraw Sheibani's accreditation and request his departure from Lebanese territory by March 29, 2026.\n\nAccording to a Lebanese anti-Hezbollah political source quoted by KAN, Lebanese authorities panicked and yielded to Iranian pressure to prevent Sheibani's expulsion. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam were reportedly among those who gave in to the Iranian demand. Sheibani had previously served as Iran's ambassador to Lebanon in the early 2000s, before being reappointed in February prior to the designation. The decision to expel Sheibani was viewed positively by Israeli officials, including Lt.-Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi, who saw it as a necessary step against Iran for its indirect occupation of Lebanon through Hezbollah. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also praised the move, urging Lebanon to take practical measures against Hezbollah.",
  "summary": "Sheibani originally served as Iran's ambassador to Lebanon in the early 2000s, then was reappointed to the role in February, before the persona non grata designation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}