UN Security Council lifts sanctions on Syrian transitional President and the Interior Minister
The UN Security Council on Thursday approved a US draft resolution to lift UN sanctions imposed on Syrian transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab.
The resolution received broad support from 14 out of 15 countries, with China abstaining.
The draft drafted by the United States came in the context of preparations for the Syrian president’s upcoming visit to Washington on November 10, where he is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
According to UN diplomats, the resolution was circulated to council members as part of a so-called silence measure, which allows objections to be submitted before a formal vote.
The resolution didn’t face any veto from the five permanent members, allowing it to be passed with relative ease, especially in light of US efforts to ease pressure on Damascus and support peace efforts in the region.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the meeting between Trump and Sharaa comes within the framework of a US initiative to promote global stability, noting that Washington sees the new Syrian leadership as an opportunity to achieve tangible progress in terms of peace and reconstruction.
Since taking power last December, following the ouster of former President Bashar al Assad, Sharaa has intensified his diplomatic activity, taking part in the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first Syrian president to address the UN since 1967.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani said the upcoming talks between Sharaa and Trump will address counterterrorism issues, especially combating ISIS, in addition to efforts to rebuild Syria after a war that has lasted for more than 14 years.
He also stressed that the continuation of sanctions is no longer justified, and that Syria seeks balanced relations with all countries.
The UN resolution comes after the US president in June lifted most US sanctions on Syria, and he had met with Sharaa during a previous visit to Saudi Arabia in May, where he described him as a “strong man” and praised their first meeting, which he considered “wonderful”.
