In a major diplomatic shift, the United States and the United Nations Security Council have lifted long-standing sanctions on Syria’s new leadership. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa from the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, while the Treasury Department delisted Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from its sanctions regime.
The UN Security Council, in a US-backed resolution supported by 15 members including Pakistan, formally ended restrictions imposed under the Islamic State and Al Qaeda sanctions framework. The move removes travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on the two Syrian officials, signalling a new phase of international engagement with Damascus.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad welcomed the decision, saying it reflects “the international community’s support for helping the Syrian people transition into a new political phase.”
The US State Department described the decision as a “strong political signal” recognising Syria’s progress after decades of repression. It praised the Sharaa government’s steps toward regional stability, counterterrorism, and chemical weapons elimination.
The delisting marks a notable turn in US-Syria relations, supported by regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Qatar, seeking Syria’s reintegration into global diplomacy.
