UN Ends Penalties on Syrian President Ahead of White House Visit
United Nations Security Council members approved to a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa before his presidential meeting next week.
He became provisional head of state subsequent to commanding a revolutionary movement that removed the former president in the final month of 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of civil war.
The US representative to the UN Mike Waltz declared the global body transmitted "a powerful diplomatic message" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" following Assad's ouster.
Previously, he faced global penalties in his role as head of the Islamist group HTS, previously associated with the extremist organization. Washington eliminated HTS from a list of international terrorist organizations during July.
Additional Sanctions Relief
The UN also removed sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister the interior minister.
The nation's top diplomat welcomed the removal of the sanctions, posting on social media: "Syrian officials convey thanks toward America and to friendly nations for their support of Syria and its people."
Forthcoming Presidential Visit
The Syrian leader's Washington trip on Monday comes after President Trump remarked that Sharaa had made "good progress" in establishing peace to the conflict-ravaged nation.
The two leaders convened initially in May, while the American president was in Saudi Arabia while traveling through the Middle East.
After that meeting, Trump portrayed him as a "resilient figure" having a "formative history".
The HTS organization he led was al-Qaeda's affiliate inside the country until he severed ties during 2016.
Earlier American Trip
The upcoming meeting is not Sharaa's first trip to the US during this period. This past fall, he made history as the pioneering Middle Eastern head of state to speak before the global assembly at UN headquarters after approximately sixty years.
During his address, he said Syria was "restoring its proper position among the nations of the world" and demonstrated unity toward Gaza's residents.
- The Middle Eastern president speaks before global body initially after nearly six decades
- Trump's meeting with President Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians' hopes
