Syria – April 25: Security Council Between Sanctions Pressure and Calls for Calm, While Damascus and Baghdad Grow Closer
The United States has announced a set of political and security conditions in exchange for easing sanctions on Syria, while Russia responded by pledging humanitarian and agricultural aid and reaffirming its support for the Syrian government, escalating its rhetoric against Israeli incursions during a UN Security Council session held on Friday, April 25. Meanwhile, the Syrian capital, Damascus, hosted a meeting between President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and a high-level Iraqi delegation, discussing multiple key issues.
Washington Officially Outlines Conditions for Easing Sanctions
The United States, through its UN Ambassador Dorothy Shea, officially laid out several conditions that the Syrian government must meet in order to obtain any partial relief from US sanctions.
Speaking during the Security Council session, Shea stated that the US expects the Syrian authorities to renounce and combat terrorism, refrain from aggression against neighboring countries, exclude foreign fighters from official roles, prevent Iran from using Syrian territory, eliminate weapons of mass destruction, cooperate in the recovery of missing American citizens, and ensure security and freedoms for all Syrians.
Shea added that Washington is “monitoring the behavior of the interim authorities” and will shape its positions accordingly, emphasizing the need for the Syrian leadership to “move beyond its past” and the importance of “holding those responsible for the coastal events accountable, in line with the principle of no impunity.”
She concluded by affirming that the US continues to cooperate with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and remains ready to respond to any terrorist threats posed by ISIS. She also called on countries to “accelerate the repatriation of their extremist nationals present in Syria.”
Moscow Urges Syrian Cooperation and Slams Israel
Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia announced a new $5 million contribution to support the World Food Programme (WFP) in Syria, designated for emergency food supplies.
Nebenzia pointed out that this aid is being offered despite the economic restrictions imposed on Russia. He also referred to an additional $8 million project being carried out by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with Russian support, aimed at reviving Syria’s agricultural sector.
Nebenzia voiced Russia’s concerns over increasing security tensions in various Syrian regions, urging enhanced cooperation with the Kurdish component to strengthen national unity and sending reassuring messages to Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities.
The Russian envoy also criticized Israeli escalation in Syria, particularly in Quneitra province, warning against the establishment of a new Israeli military base there. He called on Israel to return to the 1974 disengagement agreement and withdraw its forces from Syrian territory.
Russian-Turkish Dialogue: Toward a Comprehensive Political Settlement
Earlier, Russia reaffirmed through Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov—during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Nuh Yilmaz in Istanbul—that the solution in Syria must be political, comprehensive, and internationally agreed upon.
In an official statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated that any lasting political settlement must be based on full respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic. It stressed the importance of coordinating international efforts free from foreign interference or imposed conditions.
Syrian-Iraqi Meeting: Supporting Stability and Expanding Cooperation
Amid growing diplomatic momentum surrounding the Syrian file, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported details of a meeting between Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and a senior Iraqi delegation led by Iraqi Intelligence Chief Hamid Al-Shatri, held on Friday, April 25, at the Presidential Palace in Damascus.
During the meeting, both sides affirmed Iraq’s support for Syria’s unity and sovereignty, and stressed the need to enhance joint cooperation to ensure security and stability in the region. They also highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral economic partnerships, especially in the fields of oil, grain, and mutual investments.
The two sides agreed to establish joint committees to oversee the implementation of strategic trade agreements and to devise a mechanism for operating the Al-Tanf–Al-Waleed border crossing, which would strengthen logistical and trade links between the two countries. Al-Shatri also delivered an official invitation from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani for President Al-Sharaa to attend the upcoming Arab Summit, scheduled to be held in Baghdad on May 17.
In the same context, Iraq’s news agency INA cited a senior source in the delegation, stating that the meeting also addressed counterterrorism efforts, border security cooperation, and enhancing trade exchange.
The two sides also discussed the possibility of rehabilitating the Iraqi oil pipeline that runs through Syrian territory to the Mediterranean ports, as part of broader efforts to revive vital energy infrastructure.
