Syria’s Sharaa, in New York, renews call for US to formally drop sanctions

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa renews his call for Washington to formally lift US sanctions imposed under the 2019 Caesar Act while visiting New York to attend the first UN General Assembly of a Syrian leader in nearly six decades.

Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda leader, led rebel forces that overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s government last year. US President Donald Trump met him in Riyadh in May and ordered most sanctions lifted, but the Caesar Syria Civil Protection Act of 2019, authorizing them, remains US law.

Speaking at a summit on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly, Sharaa says the sanctions imposed on the previous Syrian leadership were no longer justified and were increasingly seen by Syrians as measures targeting them directly.

“We have a big mission to build the economy,” Sharaa says.

“Syria has a diverse workforce. They love to work, it’s in its genes. So don’t be worried, just lift the sanctions and you will see the results.”

Sharaa, the first Syrian president to participate in the General Assembly since 1967, is expected to deliver his first address at the General Assembly, which opens its 80th session on Tuesday.

Members of Congress have been debating whether to repeal the Caesar Act, which imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Syria under Assad. Some lawmakers, including Trump’s fellow Republicans as well as Democrats, want its repeal to be included as an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act, a sweeping defense bill expected to pass by the end of December.