Lebanese people in Iran refers to Lebanese living in Iran or Iranians of Lebanese descent. The Lebanese populate various regions and cities, but historically the religious city of Qom (apart from the modern capital Tehran and previous capitals) has been a principal area of settlement.
Contents
Lebanese are known to have been steadily migrating to the contemporary and former territories of Iran since the time of the Safavid dynasty.
History
Lebanese are known to have been migrating to contemporary Iran since the time of the Safavids. Nur-al-Din Karaki ʿĀmeli, a principal Lebanese Shiite scholar, played a pivotal role at the Safavid court in opening a new way in the relations between secular rulers Shi'ite clerics. Karaki furthermore played a crucial role in inaugurating a movement of emigration of Lebanese Shiʿite scholars from Jabal ʿĀmel in Lebanon to Safavid Persia during the reign of the first two Safavid shahs, namely Ismail I (r. 1501-24) and Tahmasp I (r. 1524-76), who were at pains to introduce Shi'ism on the state-level throughout their vast dominions.