Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, used his debut appearance at the United Nations General Assembly to call for the lifting of international sanctions, marking the country’s first address to the gathering by a head of state in 60 years.
“Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world,” al-Sharaa told world leaders on Wednesday, describing his nation’s story as “a mix of pain and hope.”
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The 55-year-old leader, who rose to power in January after spearheading the opposition that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long rule, struck a tone that was at once defiant and conciliatory. “For long years, we’ve suffered injustice, deprivation and oppression. Then we rose in claiming our dignity,” he said.
Celebrations at home
Inside Syria, the speech was broadcast live on large screens, with crowds gathering across major cities. Witnesses described fireworks lighting up the sky and a celebratory atmosphere, as Syrians marked what many saw as their return to the global stage after years of isolation.
“This is Syria coming back to the international community,” said one observer in Damascus.
sanctions in focus
A central theme of al-Sharaa’s address was his demand for an end to sanctions, which he said were “shackling the Syrian people” and obstructing the country’s recovery.
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The United States removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the armed group once led by al-Sharaa, from its list of foreign terrorist organisations in July — a clear signal of shifting policy. Since taking power, he has pressed ahead with reforms, including plans for elections and steps to attract foreign investment.
The Biden administration’s successor, Donald Trump, lifted several decades-old sanctions during a state visit to Saudi Arabia in the spring, but the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — a powerful tool of US sanctions — remains in place. Congress is now debating whether to repeal it.
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Since assuming office, al-Sharaa has embarked on what diplomats describe as a “charm offensive,” meeting French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris and later holding talks with Trump in Riyadh. This week in New York, he met Marco Rubio, US secretary of state and appeared at the Concordia Annual Summit, a high-profile forum on the sidelines of the UN assembly.
Israel tensions
The Syrian leader also used his address to condemn repeated Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, which have continued since Assad’s fall. “Israeli policies contradict the international supporting position for Syria,” he said, warning that such actions risk “new crises and struggles in our region.”
Still, al-Sharaa signalled readiness for dialogue, reaffirming Syria’s commitment to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement that helped stabilise the Israel-Syria frontier after the Yom Kippur War.
With Israel’s war in Gaza dominating discussions at this year’s General Assembly, al-Sharaa voiced support for Palestinians. “Syria stands firmly with the people of Gaza, its children and women, and all peoples facing violations and aggression,” he said, calling for an immediate end to the conflict.
looking back, looking ahead
Closing his address, al-Sharaa reflected on the violence his own country endured over the past decade. “The suffering Syria endured we wish upon no one,” he told delegates. “We are among the people most deeply aware of the horrors of war and destruction.”
