The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, has become a divisive figure. To his local detractors, he embodies Iran's ambitions to dominate the already fragile Lebanese state.
Even his allies in Hezbollah reportedly voice grievances about his interference in military decisions, funding suspensions from Tehran and his overreach into Lebanese parliamentary affairs.
Amani, 61, was assigned to Beirut more than two years ago, partly due to his fluency in Arabic. During a visit to Hezbollah’s stronghold in Dahieh this week, he faced an unusual confrontation. After eulogizing slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Amani was approached by a reporter who declared, “You must know, Mr. Ambassador, that you are persona non grata in Lebanon.”
The ambassador’s bodyguards did not intervene, and Amani responded: “I am here on a mission assigned by the Islamic Republic, with the consent of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry. Without their approval two and a half years ago, I wouldn’t have stayed even for a moment.”
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Aftermath of the attack targeting Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut's Dahieh
(Photo: Ibrahim Amro / AFP)
Iranian ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani visits the Dahieh
Amani has been recovering from injuries sustained in an attack on Hezbollah's communication devices last summer. He lost vision in one eye, suffers impaired sight in the other, and wears dark glasses to conceal the damage. His left hand remains heavily bandaged, concealing its condition, while his right hand is missing a finger.
Despite this, his wife has downplayed the severity of his injuries. However, questions persist: why was an Iranian diplomat handling a Hezbollah pager loaded with explosives? Lebanese sentiment often aligns with the belief that he got what he deserved.
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Iran’s embassy staff in Beirut has faced increasing hostility, with many retreating to Tehran amid growing resentment. Following setbacks in Iraq and Syria, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is reportedly shifting focus to Lebanon, seeking to exploit its instability. Amani was seen as a key player in this strategy, which Lebanon’s leadership has resisted multiple times over the past year.
Upon returning to Beirut after medical treatment in Iran, Amani sought direct engagement with the media to project Iran’s narrative. “Don’t believe the Zionists who aim to kill every last Lebanese civilian,” he said in one statement. He also voiced confidence in Syria’s Assad regime, claiming that the rebels would ultimately vanish.
Smadar PerryPhoto: Yariv KatzDespite his efforts, Amani remains a target of ridicule in Lebanon, mocked for both his rhetoric and his physical disabilities. His tenure and Iran’s broader plans to infiltrate Lebanese politics and military structures remain uncertain.
With Hezbollah’s senior command severely weakened, many wonder whether Iran will accept a new reality where the Lebanese army, not Hezbollah, holds the border with Israel. This strategy, supported by Paris, Washington and Gulf states, could mark a pivotal shift—if it succeeds.