UN Draft Seeks to Remove Sanctions on Syrian President al-Sharaa

Post by : Raina Nasser

The United States has circulated a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council asking that sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa be lifted before his anticipated trip to the White House. The proposal would also strip measures from Syria's Interior Minister, Anas Khattab. No date has been set for a council vote on the draft.

For adoption, a Security Council resolution must secure at least nine affirmative votes and avoid vetoes from the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. Washington has been pressing the 15-member council for several months to ease punitive measures on Syria.

Al-Sharaa's forthcoming visit is being described as a notable diplomatic advance after years of conflict. Following 13 years of civil war, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December by insurgent forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group formerly known as the Nusra Front and regarded as al Qaeda's official wing in Syria until 2016. HTS has been listed by the Security Council since May 2014 under measures including a travel ban, asset freezes and an arms embargo. Both al-Sharaa and Khattab remain on sanctions lists.

Despite the sanctions regime, the Security Council committee has routinely granted travel exemptions to al-Sharaa, making his journey to the United States feasible even if the draft resolution is not passed beforehand. The move follows a policy shift announced by US President Donald Trump in May that signaled an intention to lift American sanctions on Syria.

UN sanctions monitors have stated there are no “active ties” this year between al Qaeda and HTS, a finding that supports the US argument for relaxation. The draft resolution underscores a broader push to restore diplomatic engagement with Syria after prolonged isolation and conflict.