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The UN Security Council voted in favour to an American proposal removing restrictions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his Washington trip next week.

Sharaa was named transitional president following his leadership in a rebel offensive that removed the previous leader in the final month of 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of domestic strife.

The US representative Mike Waltz at the United Nations declared the global body transmitted "an emphatic political statement" that acknowledged Syria entered "a new era" since Assad was deposed.

Previously, he faced global penalties while commanding the religious organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously associated with the extremist organization. The US removed HTS from a list of global extremist entities in July.

More Penalties Removed

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

Syria's foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the elimination of these restrictions, stating online: "The nation shows its gratitude to Washington and supportive states for assisting the country and its population."

Forthcoming Presidential Visit

Sharaa's White House visit at the start of the week follows US President Donald Trump stated the Middle Eastern president demonstrated "substantial headway" towards bringing peace to the previously divided state.

Both presidents held discussions on their first occasion in May, while the American president was in Saudi Arabia while traveling through the region.

Subsequent to that discussion, the US president described the Syrian as a "strong individual" having a "formative history".

The HTS organization he led operated as the terrorist network's partner in Syria before he cut connections in 2016.

Previous US Visit

The upcoming meeting does not represent his initial visit to the United States during this period. This past fall, he became the initial Syrian president to speak before the United Nations gathering at UN headquarters for nearly six decades.

Throughout his presentation, he stated the country had been "restoring its proper position across international circles" and demonstrated unity toward Gaza's residents.

• President Sharaa addresses UN General Assembly initially in almost 60 years
• The presidential discussion with Sharaa, once considered impossible, enhances Syrian aspirations