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The UN Security Council approved to a US resolution ending penalties on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa prior to his White House visit the following week.

He became provisional head of state after leading a revolutionary movement that ousted the former president in winter 2024, bringing to a close 13 years of internal conflict.

Washington's ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations declared the global body transmitted "an emphatic political statement" that acknowledged Syria entered "a different period" since Assad was deposed.

Previously, he faced UN sanctions in his role as head of the Muslim faction HTS, once connected to the extremist organization. Washington eliminated the organization from the catalog of foreign terror groups this past July.

Further Restrictions Lifted

The UN also removed sanctions on Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

The Syrian diplomatic chief applauded the lifting of these restrictions, posting on social media: "Syrian officials convey thanks toward America and supportive states for their support the Syrian nation and citizens."

Imminent Washington Talks

Sharaa's White House visit at the start of the week comes after President Trump said the Syrian leader demonstrated "substantial headway" working toward stability to the war-torn country.

The pair met initially in May, while the American president was in Saudi Arabia during a visit to Arab nations.

Following that encounter, America's leader characterized him as a "resilient figure" having a "formative history".

His Islamist group HTS was al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until he severed ties back in 2016.

Prior United States Journey

This week's diplomatic engagement is not the president's debut journey to the US during this period. This past fall, he emerged as the initial Syrian president to address the global assembly in New York in almost 60 years.

Throughout his presentation, he said Syria was "regaining its deserved status among the nations of the world" while showing support with the people of Gaza.

• President Sharaa speaks before global body on historic occasion after nearly six decades
• The high-level talks with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, elevates national expectations