US asks UN to lift sanctions on Syria’s President ahead of White House visit

NEW YORK - The United States has proposed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is due to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Nov 10.

The draft resolution, seen by Reuters on Nov 4, would also lift sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote.

A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the US, France or Britain to be adopted.

Washington has been urging the 15-member Security Council for months to ease Syria sanctions.

After 13 years of civil war, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad was ousted
in December in a lightning offensive by insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Formerly known as the Nusra Front, HTS was Al-Qaeda’s official wing in Syria until breaking ties in 2016.

Since May 2014, the group has been on the UN Security Council’s Al-Qaeda and Islamic State sanctions list.

A number of HTS members are also under UN sanctions – a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo –including its leader Mr Sharaa and Mr Khattab.

A Security Council sanctions committee has been regularly granting Mr Sharaa travel exemptions in 2025, so even if the US-drafted resolution is not adopted before Nov 10, the Syrian President is still likely to be able to visit the White House.

Mr Trump announced a major US policy shift in May when he said he would lift US sanctions on Syria
.

UN sanctions monitors have seen no “active ties” in 2025 between Al-Qaeda and HTS, according to a UN report, seen by Reuters in July. REUTERS