🔗 Share this article

The UN Security Council voted in favour to a US resolution to lift sanctions on President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria before his Washington trip the following week.

He became interim leader subsequent to commanding an insurgent campaign that removed Bashar al-Assad in the final month of 2024, bringing to a close over a decade of domestic strife.

The US representative UN ambassador Mike Waltz stated the United Nations delivered "a powerful diplomatic message" that acknowledged Syria entered "a different period" following Assad's ouster.

Sharaa was under United Nations restrictions in his role as head of the Muslim faction the HTS movement, previously associated with the terrorist network. Washington eliminated the organization from the catalog of international terrorist organizations during July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

Additionally, the United Nations lifted penalties against the Syrian interior official Minister Anas Khattab.

The nation's top diplomat applauded the lifting of the sanctions, posting on social media: "Syria expresses its appreciation to Washington and supportive states for their support of Syria and its people."

Imminent Washington Talks

President Sharaa's presidential meeting at the start of the week comes after President Trump remarked that Sharaa achieved "significant advancement" towards bringing peace to the previously divided state.

The pair met initially in May, during Trump's Riyadh trip while traveling through Arab nations.

Subsequent to that discussion, America's leader characterized Sharaa as a "tough guy" having a "formative history".

His Islamist group HTS operated as the terrorist network's partner within Syria until he severed ties back in 2016.

Prior United States Journey

Monday's visit will not be the president's debut journey to the US during this period. In September, he emerged as the pioneering Middle Eastern head of state to present to the UN General Assembly in Manhattan for nearly six decades.

During his address, he said Syria was "reclaiming its rightful place across international circles" and expressed solidarity with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• The Middle Eastern president addresses UN General Assembly initially after nearly six decades
• The high-level talks with President Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, enhances Syrian aspirations