13 October 2010 Last updated at 06:09 GMT
Posters and flags line the main road from Beirut airport, but not everyone in Lebanon is enthusiastic
The two-day visit will include a tour of villages along Lebanon's tense border with Israel.
The region was devastated during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and rebuilt partly with Iranian money.
During his visit, Mr Ahmadinejad will meet President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
He will also attend a rally in the capital Beirut organised by Hezbollah.
But correspondents say that although the Iranian leader will be welcome in Hezbollah's strongholds, some members of Lebanon's pro-Western parliamentary majority see it as a provocation.
Ahead of the visit, Hezbollah's rivals in government issued a statement saying Mr Ahmadinejad was seeking to transform Lebanon into "an Iranian base on the Mediterranean".
Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced her concerns over the visit with Mr Suleiman.
Mr Ahmadinejad's visit also comes amid tension over a UN inquiry into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The UN tribunal is believed to be close to issuing indictments, including ones naming members of Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Hariri - Rafik Hariri's son - is under pressure from Hezbollah and Syria to denounce the tribunal.
Iranian leader Ahmadinejad begins Lebanon visit-
In March 2009, the Supreme Leader of Iran questioned the sincerity so far of the U.S.'s new rhetoric, and Iran's ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency said U.N. sanctions united Iranians to protect their "national interest" of enrichment. In April 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country "welcomes a hand extended to it should it really and truly be based on honesty, justice and respect." Karim Sadjadpour, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has said Iran's leader "holds strongly that Tehran must not compromise in the face of U.S. pressure or intimidation, for it would project weakness and encourage even greater pressure."
Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, has said "the United States should be willing to discuss what Iran (as a signatory of the NPT) describes as its "right to enrich." It may well be necessary to acknowledge this right, provided that Iran accepts both limits on its enrichment program (no HEU) and enhanced safeguards". Mark Fitzpatrick, a Senior Fellow for Non‐Proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has said "a key policy challenge is how to build a barrier between a latent nuclear weapons capability and actual weapons production. This is difficult when, as in Iran's case today, the distinction is blurred almost to the point of invisibility." On Tuesday, July 27, 2010 British Prime Minister David Cameron made what has been described as "his most outspoken comments on the Tehran regime since becoming PM", saying "Iran is enriching uranium to 20 per cent with no Industrial logic other than producing a bomb.
If Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, then why won't Iran allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect? Why does Iran continue to seek to acquire military components? And why does Iran continue to threaten Israel with annihilation?" These comments were made the day after the European Union introduced sanctions which ban the sale of equipment, technology and services to Iran.
Posters and flags line the main road from Beirut airport, but not everyone in Lebanon is enthusiasticIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Lebanon for a visit seen as a boost for Tehran's Shia ally Hezbollah, an enemy of Israel.
The region was devastated during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and rebuilt partly with Iranian money.
During his visit, Mr Ahmadinejad will meet President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
He will also attend a rally in the capital Beirut organised by Hezbollah.
It is the Iranian leader's first visit to Lebanon since he took office in 2005.
The highway that runs from the airport to the centre of the capital Beirut has been decorated with Iranian flags and posters for Mr Ahmadinejad's visit.But correspondents say that although the Iranian leader will be welcome in Hezbollah's strongholds, some members of Lebanon's pro-Western parliamentary majority see it as a provocation.
Ahead of the visit, Hezbollah's rivals in government issued a statement saying Mr Ahmadinejad was seeking to transform Lebanon into "an Iranian base on the Mediterranean".
Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced her concerns over the visit with Mr Suleiman.
Mr Ahmadinejad's visit also comes amid tension over a UN inquiry into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The UN tribunal is believed to be close to issuing indictments, including ones naming members of Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Hariri - Rafik Hariri's son - is under pressure from Hezbollah and Syria to denounce the tribunal.
Images for iran atomic power plant-
30 Sep 2010 ... Original Plan for Now-Controversial Plant Dates Back to 1974; Russia Will Provide Nuclear Fuel Under Int'l Agreement.
24 Feb 2009 ... Iran's first nuclear power plant will undergo comprehensive testing Wednesday in front of Russian and Iranian officials, Iranian Students'.
an official launch ceremony of Iran's first nuclear power plant, Bushehr I reactor was held on 21 August 2010, and the plant is expected to go on line in the next few months., but now appears likely by the end of 2010. There are no current plans to complete the Bushehr II reactor, although the construction of 19 nuclear power plants is envisaged. Iran has announced that it is working on a new 360 MWe nuclear power plant to be located in Darkhovin. Iran has also indicated that it will seek more medium-sized nuclear power plants and uranium mines for the future.
12 October 2010 Last updated at 12:18 GMT
Ms Ashtiani's case has sparked worldwide condemnation
Iran said on Monday it had held two "foreign nationals" who it said were activists posing as reporters.
The pair had been interviewing the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, who has been sentenced to death by stoning.
It is thought Ms Ashtiani's son Sajjad and her lawyer may also have been arrested.
She did not confirm their names, or even that they were German, though that is the suggestion from Iranian sources and the Association of German Journalists.
Iran on Tuesday said the two had entered Iran on tourist visas and therefore did not have the right accreditation to carry out interviews.
"They were arrested because they had a link to a foreign anti-revolution network and their case is under review," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, adding the two were arrested in the north-western city of Tabriz.
The case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has caused international outrage.
She has been convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.
Iran has temporarily suspended Ms Ashtiani's stoning verdict under international pressure.
But last month, reports surfaced that Iranian courts were instead considering hanging her for the murder of her husband.
Her lawyers insist she is innocent.
Germany seeks release of 'journalists' held in Iran
Ms Ashtiani's case has sparked worldwide condemnation German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her government wants to secure the release of two foreigners arrested in Iran - believed to be German reporters.
The pair had been interviewing the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, who has been sentenced to death by stoning.
It is thought Ms Ashtiani's son Sajjad and her lawyer may also have been arrested.
Mrs Merkel said that foreign ministry officials were working to release the two "foreigners", but that they had so far received little information.
Iran on Tuesday said the two had entered Iran on tourist visas and therefore did not have the right accreditation to carry out interviews.
"They were arrested because they had a link to a foreign anti-revolution network and their case is under review," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, adding the two were arrested in the north-western city of Tabriz.
The case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has caused international outrage.
She has been convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.
Iran has temporarily suspended Ms Ashtiani's stoning verdict under international pressure.
But last month, reports surfaced that Iranian courts were instead considering hanging her for the murder of her husband.
Her lawyers insist she is innocent.
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