Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Thursday questioned reports that Lebanon had renewed the visa of Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, saying that such a move, if confirmed, would contradict an official State decision and undermine the authority of Lebanese institutions.

Commenting on media reports regarding the visa renewal, Gemayel wrote on X that the issue required clarification from Lebanese authorities.

"How can someone whom the Lebanese State has declared as persona non grata later have his visa renewed?" Gemayel said.

"If these media reports are accurate, this is not simply an administrative matter. It represents a blow to the State’s authority and a contradiction of an official sovereign decision," he added.

Gemayel called on Lebanon’s General Security Directorate to clarify the matter, stressing that State institutions must respect and uphold official government decisions.

"General Security owes the public an explanation, because respect for state decisions begins with institutions enforcing them, not finding ways around them," he said.

Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Shibani, was declared persona non grata by the Lebanese authorities on March 24, 2026, after Beirut withdrew its approval of his appointment and requested that he leave the country. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said the decision was linked to what it described as violations of diplomatic norms and interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.