According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 22, 2026, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “strongly condemned” the United States Treasury Department’s decision to impose sanctions on Iran’s ambassador-designate to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, along with several Lebanese officials and citizens.

The sanctions were announced by the US government against nine individuals whom Washington accused of “obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah”. The measures form part of broader US efforts aimed at increasing pressure on individuals it believes are connected to activities undermining stability in Lebanon.

Iran rejected the accusations and criticised the move, describing the sanctions as unjustified and politically motivated. Tehran said the action represented interference in regional affairs and argued that the United States was continuing its policy of pressure against Iranian officials and allies in the Middle East.

Sheibani, who had been appointed as Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, had already faced diplomatic difficulties before the sanctions announcement. At the end of March, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared him persona non grata and revoked its approval for his appointment, effectively ordering him to leave Beirut.

The Lebanese government’s decision came amid heightened political tensions in the country and increasing international pressure related to Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s political and security landscape. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, remains a central point of dispute between Tehran and Washington.

The latest sanctions add to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran over influence in Lebanon and the wider region. Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of supporting groups that destabilise Middle Eastern countries, while Iran maintains that it supports regional allies against foreign interference and external pressure.

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