WANA (May 22) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a statement strongly condemning the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, as well as several Lebanese officials and citizens.

 

Tehran characterized the American move as an attempt to undermine Lebanon’s national sovereignty and incite division within its society.

 

The official statement reads as follows:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the illegal and unjustified action by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to sanction Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani, the designated Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Beirut.

 

Tehran views this move as yet another example of the U.S. administration’s lawlessness and disregard for the established principles of international law and the UN Charter—particularly the foundational principle of respect for the national sovereignty of states.

 

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the U.S. blacklisting of several Hezbollah members of the Lebanese Parliament, officials from the Amal Movement, and a number of Lebanese military and security officers.

 

These absurd measures aim to undermine Lebanon’s national sovereignty and stir sedition within Lebanese society. They serve as a clear sign of the U.S. administration’s continued complicity with the aggressive and occupying Zionist regime in perpetuating military aggression and committing heinous crimes against Lebanon.

 

Undoubtedly, the diverse groups and segments of Lebanese society will maintain their national unity and cohesion to defend Lebanon’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. By repelling aggression and ending the Zionist regime’s occupation in Lebanon, they will thwart the regime’s sinister objectives.

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran remains determined to strengthen its friendly and historic ties with the Republic of Lebanon across various fields, in line with the mutual interests of both nations.”

 

The Iranian diplomatic response follows a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which stated it had sanctioned nine individuals—including Ambassador Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani—for allegedly obstructing the disarmament of Hezbollah.