New York, United Nations — In a move signaling the possibility of a new diplomatic era, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week, as confirmed by Syrian state media outlet SANA.
A photograph released by the agency captured a symbolic moment: Al-Sharaa shaking hands with President Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. While no official statement followed the encounter, the image alone spoke volumes — a visual that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
This marks the second time the two leaders have met, following their historic engagement in Riyadh in May. Earlier this week, Al-Sharaa also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring a shift in Syria’s international posture. His participation in the General Assembly was itself historic — the first appearance of a Syrian leader in nearly six decades.
The last time a Syrian head of state attended the UN General Assembly was in 1967, before the rise of the Assad regime. Al-Sharaa’s ascent to power in December, following a rapid rebel advance and the fall of Bashar Assad, effectively ended a civil war that had gripped the nation for nearly 14 years.
Since then, Al-Sharaa has taken bold steps to rehabilitate Syria’s standing both regionally and globally. His efforts, however, haven’t been without controversy. His former leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., initially raised international concerns. But the Trump administration has since removed the designation, signaling a major pivot in U.S. policy toward Syria.
Secretary Rubio, in a statement, highlighted the significance of these diplomatic efforts: “This is a rare opportunity for Syria to rebuild a stable and sovereign nation.” The two leaders also discussed terrorism, missing American nationals, and the role of Israeli-Syrian relations in regional stability.
Still, Al-Sharaa struck a cautious tone on normalizing relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, emphasizing Syria’s unique and painful history with its neighbor. “Those who are part of the Abraham Accords are not neighbors to Israel. Syria is,” he said, noting over a thousand Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory.
In a candid discussion at the Concordia Annual Summit with retired General David Petraeus — a former CIA director who once oversaw U.S. military operations during the Iraq War — Al-Sharaa reflected on his own past. A former Al-Qaeda fighter who once sat in American detention, he now speaks of peace, progress, and opportunity.
“I think Syria deserves a new opportunity,” Al-Sharaa said, praising President Trump for lifting numerous sanctions that had long crippled Syria’s economy. “The Syrian people should not be killed another time through the sanctions. Lift them — and don’t worry about us. The Syrian people love to work.”
Despite progress, significant sanctions still remain. The U.S. State Department had to issue waivers to allow Al-Sharaa and his team to attend the General Assembly in New York. During his visit, he also held meetings with prominent Democratic lawmakers Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks, both of whom have pushed for easing economic restrictions.
Al-Sharaa didn’t shy away from addressing past abuses in regions like Sweida and the coastal provinces, where minorities were reportedly targeted. “There was major chaos, and everyone made mistakes,” he admitted. But in a striking departure from the Assad-era stance, he affirmed that Syria is now open to international investigations. “The Syrian state will work on accountability — even if the guilty are close to us.”
