Belem: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday praised the UN Security Council's decision to lift the sanctions imposed on him and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, calling it a 'step in the right direction' after 14 member states voted in favor of the move.

According to Anadolu Agency, the US-drafted Thursday resolution passed with 14 votes in favor and one abstention by China, marking a rare consensus at the council on easing restrictions tied to Syria's leadership. Sharaa, speaking in an interview with Asharq News TV on the sidelines of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, expressed his gratitude towards the Security Council's agreement, highlighting its significance for Syria.

The president emphasized the importance of this decision, noting that it is unreasonable for a head of state to remain sanctioned while maintaining extensive relations with countries involved. He further stated that Syria's ability to build consensus among nations that rarely agree on global issues is a positive sign and could be the beginning of resolving many outstanding problems in the world.

Sharaa credited several states, including Saudi Arabia, Trkiye, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, for supporting the diplomatic efforts that led to the lifting of the sanctions. He expressed his hope to discuss the future of US-Syria relations with President Donald Trump during his visit to the White House next Monday.

Sharaa and his delegation are in Belem, Brazil to attend the heads of state segment of COP30. This marks the first time a Syrian president has participated in a UN climate conference since the process began in 1995.