Ahead of meeting with Trump UN security council lifts sanctions on Syrian leader

According to the agency, the resolution was drafted by the United States. Fourteen of the fifteen members of the UN Security Council voted in favor, with only China abstaining.

In addition to the Syrian leader, the resolution also lifted sanctions on Syria’s interior minister, Anas Khattab.

Reuters notes that Washington had been urging the 15 Security Council members for several months to ease sanctions against Syria.

Visit of Syrian leader to Washington

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on November 10. This will mark the first time a Syrian leader has visited the United States.

Until today, al-Sharaa has been under UN sanctions that included a travel ban. For this reason, the US submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council to lift the restrictions on al-Sharaa and Khattab.

Earlier, in October 2025, the US Senate voted to repeal sanctions imposed on Syria under the so-called "Caesar Act."

Previously, in June, Trump signed an executive order ending the sanctions program against Syria to support the country’s path toward stability and peace.

The lifting of restrictions on the Syrian state began after the fall of the long-time regime of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.