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The UN Security Council voted in favour to a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his presidential meeting the following week.

He was appointed provisional head of state after leading a rebel offensive that drove out the previous leader in December 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of domestic strife.

Washington's ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the UN had sent "a powerful diplomatic message" that acknowledged Syria entered "a fresh chapter" after Assad's removal.

Previously, he faced global penalties while commanding the Islamist group the HTS movement, once connected to the terrorist network. The US removed HTS from a list of global extremist entities in July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

Furthermore, global sanctions were ended on penalties against the Syrian interior official Minister Anas Khattab.

Syria's foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the elimination of these restrictions, declaring through digital channels: "The nation shows its gratitude to the United States and allied countries for backing of Syria and its people."

Imminent Washington Talks

President Sharaa's presidential meeting this coming Monday occurs subsequent to President Trump remarked that Sharaa had made "good progress" in establishing peace to the war-torn country.

Both presidents held discussions for the first time during May, during Trump's Riyadh trip while traveling through Arab nations.

After that meeting, Trump portrayed him as a "resilient figure" with a "very strong past".

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

Previous US Visit

The upcoming meeting is not the president's debut journey to the United States during this period. This past fall, he emerged as the first Syrian leader to address the global assembly in New York for nearly six decades.

In his speech, he stated the country had been "reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world" while showing support toward Gaza's residents.

• The Middle Eastern president speaks before global body initially after nearly six decades
• The presidential discussion with President Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, enhances Syrian aspirations