US lifts sanctions on Syrian president ahead of White House meeting

On November 7, the United States lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, just one day after the United Nations Security Council removed similar restrictions ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump.

A notice posted on the U.S. Treasury Department website confirmed that the United States removed the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designations on al-Sharaa as well as Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab.

“These actions recognise the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership following the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than five decades of repression under the Assad regime,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a statement on November 7. “This new Syrian government, led by President al-Sharaa, is actively working to recover missing Americans, fulfil commitments on counterterrorism and narcotics, eliminate remaining chemical weapons, promote regional security and stability, and advance an inclusive, Syrian-led political process.”

Al-Sharaa is a former leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist organisation al-Qaeda and was previously sought by the United States with a $10 million bounty. He has also served time in Abu Ghraib prison.

The U.N. Security Council adopted the resolution lifting the sanctions with a 14-0 vote, with one member abstaining.

“By passing this resolution, the Council is sending a strong political message that Syria has entered a new era following the overthrow of Assad and his associates in December 2024,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz shortly after the vote. He added, “As President Trump has indicated, now is Syria’s opportunity for greatness,” noting that both al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab have now been officially removed from sanctions lists.

Al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet President Trump on November 10, marking the first official visit by a Syrian president to the White House. This will also be the third meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa this year, as the Syrian leader faces the challenge of rebuilding the country and restoring relations with Arab nations and the West following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The fall of Assad’s government brought an end to nearly 14 years of civil war.

By Tamilla Hasanova