“We stress the need to uphold good relations between Lebanon and Iran,” he told reporters at Beirut's airport on Wednesday.
He arrived to a warm welcome from political and party officials, as well as Lebanon-based representatives from the Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Fathali will replace outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi.
Fathali, a Middle East expert, has served as a Foreign Ministry economic adviser and Iran’s ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Roknabadi made farewell visits Tuesday to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, where he indirectly indicated his mission was over.
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