Washington Prepares Draft Resolution in Security Council to Lift Sanctions on Syria and Its Leaders

The United States is preparing a draft resolution in the International Security Council calling for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a and Interior Minister Anas Khatib, as well as the removal of "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" from the list of "terrorist entities".

The National website quoted diplomats at the United Nations saying that Washington has started consultations with permanent member states of the Council, namely France, Britain, Russia, and China, seeking consensus on the draft, amid clear differences in positions among these capitals.

According to the website, the discussions "will be complex and require a precise approach targeting each case individually", noting that lifting sanctions requires consensus from the 15 member states of the Council.

Despite the imposed sanctions, President al-Shar'a previously received limited exemptions allowing him to visit Saudi Arabia in February and Paris in May. It is expected that he will participate in the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York next September if the draft is approved.


Sources mentioned that China has expressed reservations about lifting sanctions on groups that include foreign fighters, while France and Britain have expressed concerns about the repercussions of easing restrictions on "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham", one of the prominent armed factions in Syria, listed on the sanctions due to its affiliation with Al-Qaeda and its role in the armed conflict.


In 2014, France and Britain pushed for the inclusion of both "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a on the sanctions lists, with the name of Interior Minister Anas Khatib later added at the initiative of the United States.

The imposed sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes, measures that have limited the Syrian government's ability to move internationally.