The President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, outlined the roadmap from Bkerke during the Easter Mass regarding the developments unfolding in the Lebanese arena, whether concerning civil peace, which he reinforced, or emphasizing the role of the Lebanese army and condemning any attacks on this institution. He also addressed the uncertainty surrounding the issue of expelling the Iranian ambassador. In other words, there has been criticism that the government or the state did not adhere to the cabinet's decision aimed at expelling the Iranian ambassador from Lebanon.

The ambassador did not comply, as the President noted that the Iranian ambassador had not presented his credentials, meaning he is considered an ordinary citizen rather than an ambassador. Was this statement a response to campaigns targeting the President and the government for their perceived slowness in this matter? Did the President speak in accordance with the law, given that if any ambassador does not present their credentials in a country, they are expelled and considered ordinary citizens?

This is the question that circulated among political circles. Similarly, the President addressed the matter to prevent any misunderstanding. What are the background details of President Aoun's statement describing the Iranian ambassador as an ordinary citizen, from political, legal, and diplomatic perspectives?

Former Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour told Annahar that President General Joseph Aoun was clear in stating that the uproar over the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador from Lebanon was misplaced. Simply put, he is not an ambassador but an ordinary citizen. Mansour explained that when anyone is appointed as an ambassador to another country, they must present their credentials to be formally recognized as such. Based on this principle, it was expected that the Iranian ambassador appointed to Lebanon would present his credentials at the Presidential Palace, but events unfolded that ultimately led to the decision to expel him from Lebanon.

Therefore, Mansour adds, since the Iranian ambassador did not present his credentials, he is like any ordinary citizen and has not become Iran’s ambassador in Lebanon. Once credentials are formally presented at the Presidential Palace, he departs and assumes his role as an accredited ambassador to his country.

In this regard, legal and constitutional expert Said Malek told Annahar: It is certain that diplomatic protocols, according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, require that a state wishing to appoint an ambassador to another country nominates the ambassador and informs the relevant authorities, allowing them to decide whether to accept the credentials if presented. This is what has occurred, and thus, the Iranian ambassador has still not presented his credentials to the head of state. As long as he has not done so, he does not hold the status of ambassador in the diplomatic sense.

With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ decision being issued, he became a foreign national residing in a foreign embassy, which enjoys diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Therefore, he was required to leave Lebanon within the time specified by the Lebanese authorities. His continued stay is considered illegal, as he does not hold the status of ambassador nor enjoy the personal immunity stipulated in the Vienna Convention.