UNITED NATIONS – The United States has submitted a draft United Nations Security Council resolution seeking to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his scheduled White House visit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. The resolution would also lift sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

A UN resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from permanent members, including Russia, China, the U.S., France, or Britain, before it can be adopted. It is not yet clear when the draft resolution will be put to a vote.

Washington has been advocating for the easing of Syria sanctions for months. Sharaa, along with Khattab, has been subject to UN sanctions, including travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes, due to prior ties with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly al Qaeda’s Syrian branch. However, UN monitors report no “active ties” between HTS and al Qaeda this year.

The Security Council sanctions committee has already granted travel exemptions to Sharaa, making his White House visit likely even if the U.S.-drafted resolution is not formally adopted beforehand. This follows a major U.S. policy shift announced in May, when President Trump indicated plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria.