Syrian president Ahmad-al-sharaa,in new york for UNGA

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, used a high-profile meeting on the sidelines to call for an end to U.S. sanctions and to outline his cautious hopes for security arrangements with Israel.

In a conversation with former CIA director David Petraeus, al-Sharaa said that the sanctions imposed on Syria were “no longer justified,” stressing that they had increasingly come to be viewed by Syrians as measures targeting civilians rather than policymakers.

The Syrian leader expressed hope for ongoing talks that could ease tensions with Israel, though he was careful to play down the prospect of full recognition. “Our aim is to safeguard Syria’s sovereignty while also addressing some of Israel’s security concerns,” he said, framing the discussions as a search for balance rather than a prelude to normalization.

The Abraham Accords - signed in 2020 by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan - marked a U.S.-brokered breakthrough that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. The agreements reshaped regional alliances by bringing economic, security, and diplomatic cooperation into the open. However, Syria’s position as Israel’s direct neighbor, coupled with its history of conflict and disputed territory, makes its inclusion in such accords far more complex and politically sensitive.

When pressed on whether Syria might eventually join the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, al-Sharaa balked. He noted that Syria’s circumstances were unique, unlike those of the Arab states that signed on. “Syria is Israel’s neighbor,” he said, adding that his country has long been subjected to Israeli raids and incursions that shape its security calculus in ways other regional players do not face.

While the Syrian president voiced hope that dialogue could lead to a more stable regional order, he cautioned that any agreement would need to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and political independence.