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United Nations Security Council members voted in favour to an American proposal ending penalties on President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria ahead of his presidential meeting next week.

He was appointed interim leader following his leadership in a revolutionary movement that drove out the previous leader in winter 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of internal conflict.

America's diplomat to the UN Mike Waltz stated the United Nations delivered "an emphatic political statement" that acknowledged Syria entered "a new era" since Assad was deposed.

Sharaa was under UN sanctions in his role as head of the religious organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly linked to the terrorist network. The US removed HTS from a list of international terrorist organizations during July.

More Penalties Removed

Furthermore, global sanctions were ended on sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister the interior minister.

Syria's foreign minister welcomed the removal of these restrictions, declaring through digital channels: "The nation shows its gratitude to Washington and allied countries for their support the Syrian nation and citizens."

Imminent Washington Talks

President Sharaa's presidential meeting on Monday follows US President Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president demonstrated "substantial headway" in establishing peace to the previously divided state.

Both presidents held discussions initially in May, when Trump visited Riyadh while traveling through the Middle East.

After that meeting, the US president described Sharaa as a "tough guy" having a "formative history".

His Islamist group HTS operated as the terrorist network's partner in Syria until he severed ties back in 2016.

Earlier American Trip

The upcoming meeting does not represent his initial visit to America in the current year. In September, he emerged as the first Syrian leader to address the global assembly in Manhattan after approximately sixty years.

Throughout his presentation, he said Syria was "restoring its proper position among the nations of the world" and expressed solidarity toward Gaza's residents.

• President Sharaa speaks before global body on historic occasion following approximately sixty years
• The presidential discussion with President Sharaa, once considered impossible, elevates national expectations