In the midst of diplomatic changes, Tehran announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Beirut, which sparked controversy over how to interpret the reassignment of a diplomat who had previously held this position in Lebanon, and whether this decision falls within the framework of a routine diplomatic change or does it carry broader political meanings related to the current regional situation.
In this context, the Iranian embassy in Beirut announced, yesterday, Tuesday, the appointment of Mohammad Reza Raouf Shaibani as Tehran’s ambassador to Lebanon, succeeding Ambassador Mojtaba Amani, who had assumed his duties since 2020, and was injured during the Israeli “pager” operation.
In a direct analysis of this step, the writer and political analyst Tawfiq Shoman, in an interview with , saw that every time a new Iranian ambassador is appointed in Beirut, some analyzes tend to link this appointment to major regional issues that go beyond the Lebanese reality, and attach dimensions to it that have nothing to do with it.
Shoman pointed out that “this matter was repeated previously,” citing the appointment of Muhammad Jalal Fairouz Nia as ambassador to Beirut in 2018, when his appointment was linked to regional files, before it became clear later, according to him, that these analyzes were incorrect, and that the step did not go beyond the usual diplomatic framework.
He pointed out that the same scene was repeated with the appointment of Muhammad Fateh Ali as Iranian ambassador to Beirut in 2014, in light of the escalation of the Syrian crisis, where a link was made between his appointment and the course of that crisis, while the facts did not show, according to Shoman, any direct relationship between the two matters.
In the context of answering the significance of reappointing an ambassador who had previously served in Beirut, Shoman explained that “this matter is not a precedent in Iranian diplomacy,” noting that Ghazanfar Roknabadi, who was appointed ambassador to Beirut in 2010, had served as Chargé d’Affairs at the Iranian Embassy during the 1980s, and was known for his extensive relations with Lebanese political circles. He considered that “the new Iranian ambassador, Muhammad Reza Raouf Shibani, is also distinguished by this quality, in terms of his diverse relations with various Lebanese circles.”
Shoman concluded by stressing that “the appointment of Iranian diplomats in Lebanon is often based on their extensive experience in Arab capitals,” pointing out that “Mohammed Jalal Fairouz Nia served as his country’s ambassador to Yemen and Bahrain, and Mohamed Fateh Ali was known for his experience in regional affairs, while Mohamed Reza Raouf Sheibani served in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt,” considering that “his reappointment to Beirut falls within the context of his experience in Arab affairs, without attaching connotations to the move.” A policy that goes beyond the traditional diplomatic context or reflects an exceptional readiness for a different regional phase.”
