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Security Council representatives voted in favour to a US resolution ending penalties on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa before his presidential meeting the following week.

Sharaa was named transitional president following his leadership in a revolutionary movement that removed Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, concluding thirteen long years of domestic strife.

America's diplomat to the UN Mike Waltz declared the global body transmitted "a powerful diplomatic message" that recognised Syria was in "a new era" since Assad was deposed.

He had been subject to United Nations restrictions while commanding the Muslim faction HTS, previously associated with al-Qaeda. Washington eliminated HTS from a list of international terrorist organizations this past July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

The UN also removed restrictions targeting Syria's Interior Minister the interior minister.

The Syrian diplomatic chief applauded the lifting of the sanctions, declaring through digital channels: "Syria expresses its appreciation to the United States and allied countries for their support of Syria and its people."

Upcoming White House Meeting

Sharaa's White House visit this coming Monday occurs subsequent to American leader Donald Trump said the Syrian leader had made "good progress" towards bringing peace to the conflict-ravaged nation.

The two leaders convened initially during May, during Trump's Riyadh trip while traveling through Arab nations.

Following that encounter, the US president described the Syrian as a "strong individual" possessing a "powerful background".

His former militant faction was al-Qaeda's affiliate within Syria before he cut connections during 2016.

Earlier American Trip

The upcoming meeting will not be Sharaa's first trip to America in the current year. This past fall, he emerged as the first Syrian leader to address the United Nations gathering in New York for nearly six decades.

Throughout his presentation, he declared the nation was "restoring its proper position among the nations of the world" and expressed solidarity with Palestinian citizens in Gaza.

• The Middle Eastern president addresses UN General Assembly on historic occasion in almost 60 years
• Trump's meeting with Sharaa, once considered impossible, elevates national expectations