Syrian transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa met with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of his visit to New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting took place during a reception hosted by Trump, with First Lady Melania Trump in attendance, according to the Syrian presidency on Thursday, September 25. Photos released by the presidency showed al-Sharaa shaking hands with Trump in the presence of Melania, without further details.

This was the second encounter between the two leaders, following their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last May.

Qutaiba Idlibi, Director of American Affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, told the Alaraby TV channel that the meeting was “friendly” and addressed bilateral relations and the issue of lifting sanctions. He added that al-Sharaa and Trump agreed to hold another meeting soon in Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a meeting with Arab and Islamic foreign ministers on Wednesday evening, September 24, said, “Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa pledged his commitment to working with international partners.”

Rubio added, “There are unique and exciting opportunities we are working on together, one of them being Syria’s future—a prospect that two years or even a year and a half ago seemed unimaginable.”

He emphasized that President Trump remains committed not only from a unilateral US perspective but also in partnership with many countries, to giving Syria every chance to build a strong, unified state that respects its social diversity and provides stability.

According to Rubio, Syria is no longer a base for extremist operations or foreign actors using it to launch attacks and destabilizing activities against its neighbors. He argued that Syria’s stability will, in many ways, define the stability of the entire region, adding, “President Trump took a very bold step last May, and we continue to pursue and build on it.”

Focus on lifting sanctions

The lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria topped the agenda of meetings held by President al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani during their visit to New York.

In his UN General Assembly speech on September 24, al-Sharaa had already called for an end to sanctions.

Al-Sharaa also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss “ongoing efforts” to achieve security and prosperity for all Syrians. Rubio wrote on X on September 22 that he and the Syrian president discussed “our shared goals for a stable and sovereign Syria.”

The two also reviewed the implementation of what Rubio described as President Trump’s “historic” declaration on easing sanctions, as well as “the importance of Syrian-Israeli relations.”

In a statement posted on X on Monday evening, the US State Department said Secretary Rubio affirmed the opportunity to “build a stable and sovereign state” in Syria following Trump’s announcement on sanctions relief, though he did not address remaining restrictions.

Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott noted that the discussions also covered ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the search for missing Americans, and the role of Syrian-Israeli relations in enhancing regional security.

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani posted on X on September 23 that he met his American counterpart to explore ways of strengthening US-Syrian relations.

According to al-Shibani, both sides stressed “the need to lift sanctions and support the Syrian government in reconstruction and development,” while also discussing prospects for “strategic cooperation” in political, security, and economic fields, aiming for a balanced relationship that serves the Syrian people and contributes to stability and prosperity in Syria and the region.