Iran's ambassador will not leave Lebanon despite being declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country by Sunday, an Iranian diplomatic source told AFP."The ambassador will not leave Lebanon, in accordance with the wishes of the speaker of parliament Nabih Berri and of Hezbollah," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Hezbollah has denounced the decision while Berri's Amal party joined Hezbollah ministers in boycotting a cabinet session this week in protest at the order to expel Mohammad Reza Sheibani.
The foreign ministry this week gave Tehran's envoy until Sunday to leave in the latest unprecedented step by Lebanese authorities since a new war erupted on March 2 between Israel and Hezbollah.
The ministry accused him of making statements "interfering in Lebanon's internal politics".
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the expulsion "a courageous decision".
The Lebanese authorities have banned Hezbollah's military and security activities. It is the only armed non-state group in the country and a close ally of Iran.
It has also banned the presence and operations of Iran's Revolutionary Guards whom Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused of directing Hezbollah operations against Israel.
