Al-Sharaa Reveals Details of His Talks with Trump on the Golan, Peace with Israel, Lebanon, and Arms Control

President Syrian Ahmad al-Sharaa revealed details of a conversation between him and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Washington's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying he jokingly suggested giving Israelis New Jersey instead of the Golan, while also discussing negotiations with Israel, the future of foreign bases, and the constitution, leaving the door open to a possible presidential run in the future.

The remarks by al-Sharaa came Wednesday morning during a dialogue session hosted by former U.S. official Brett McGurk and organized by the Atlantic Council’s Syria Project in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Al-Sharaa spoke about his relationship with Trump, stating that the U.S. president supported Syria and made what he described as a "historic" decision to lift sanctions against it, affirming a distinctive bond between them.

"Give Them New Jersey"

Regarding Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, al-Sharaa recounted their conversation during his visit to the White House, saying he joked: "Why don’t you give New Jersey to the Israelis? You don’t own the Golan to give it to them, but you do own New Jersey."

He clarified that he chose New Jersey for his joke because it is a U.S. state with a Democratic majority and does not elect Trump.

However, al-Sharaa shifted from humor to reaffirm his position on the Golan, stating: "The Golan has its people," and that it is not within the right of the Syrian president, the American president, or any individual to cede or grant it to others.

Trump had signed a presidential declaration in March 2019, during his first term, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights.

Negotiations with Israel

Al-Sharaa addressed the path of negotiations with Israel, stating that Damascus has chosen diplomacy to deal with "repeated Israeli attacks and occupation of parts of Syrian territory," turning to dialogue with the help of friendly countries.

He affirmed that Syria seeks a "lasting peace with Israel," provided that Syrian rights are secured and the occupation of its land ends, emphasizing that achieving peace must go through the restoration of these rights.

He said Israel continues to carry out attacks on Syria, along with incursions, arrests, and airstrikes inside Syrian territory.

He revealed that Damascus has held several rounds of talks with the Israeli side, and negotiations had reached about 90% completion before Israel withdrew.

Al-Sharaa explained that the first phase for Damascus "relates to the territories occupied by Israel after December 8, 2024," stressing Syria’s demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a return to the 1974 ceasefire lines.

Afterward, according to al-Sharaa, both sides could move on to discussing security arrangements; if successful, this would pave the way for negotiations toward lasting peace.

He said that if Israel wants to ensure its security, it must respect the security of others, arguing that the problem lies not with Syria but with Israeli policies.

He added that Israel building its policy toward Syria based on events in Gaza represents a "wrong path."

He also noted that any instability in Lebanon directly affects Syria, affirming that Damascus seeks to assist the Lebanese government in strengthening state institutions.

Future of Foreign Bases

On the issue of foreign military presence, al-Sharaa stated that the current direction focuses on removing foreign bases from Syria and preserving national unity.

He clarified that the state cooperates with various countries to enable them to maintain the integrity and independence of its territory, expressing his belief that Syria will not need foreign military bases in the near future.

He emphasized that any military presence on Syrian soil must receive approval from the People’s Council and be based on a legal framework ensuring Syrian state rights.

He revealed that talks with Russia led to reducing its bases in Syria to two, with an agreement to convert them into training centers for the Syrian army.

Constitution Without Sectarianism

On the form of the political system, al-Sharaa stressed rejecting a sectarian system, arguing it would divide the country along ethnic, geographic, or religious lines.

He expressed his belief that drafting the constitution will be completed before the end of the five-year transitional period, noting that the state is developing laws through the People’s Council and reinforcing the rule of law during the transitional phase.

He affirmed that Kurds are part of the Syrian people and society, pointing out that Syria represents a model of peaceful coexistence, and that the previous regime’s reliance on intimidating minorities left negative consequences across the country.

He said: "We work to ensure power is not personal or concentrated in one individual, but rather exercised by state institutions according to law and the constitution."

Al-Sharaa’s Presidential Candidacy

On the possibility of running in the upcoming presidential election, al-Sharaa said he has not yet considered it, and his current priority is serving the people and advancing the country economically and politically.

But he did not rule out running if he sees that responsibility demands his continued presence, saying: "I would run to do so, because avoiding responsibility or fleeing from it does not always exempt you from it."

He added that individuals should take responsibility when they believe they can fulfill it, noting that returning to his normal life would be better for him personally due to the difficulty of this path, but he would remain if he sees his presence as essential.

Strategic Project

In the economic sphere, al-Sharaa unveiled a strategic project to build a pipeline connecting Iraqi oil fields to Syrian ports, aiming to provide a secure export route for Iraqi oil that avoids passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

He also said Syria has reached a high level of professionalism in security coordination, with several countries participating in training its security forces.

He pointed out that the Syrian state managed to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. forces, describing their exit from Syria as "the most successful withdrawal from any country the United States has ever entered."

On relations with Iraq, al-Sharaa affirmed that Syria’s relationship with the Kurdistan Region is "very good," highlighting extensive shared economic and political interests between the two sides.

He described his relationship with Masoud Barzani and the leadership of the Kurdistan Region as "excellent," also noting cultural and political ties with Iraq that could help strengthen bilateral relations.

Lebanon and Arms Control

On the Lebanese issue, al-Sharaa said Damascus’s approach is to support the Lebanese government and empower state institutions, stressing the necessity of concentrating arms under state control and ensuring no armed group operates outside the rule of law or state authority.

He added that Syria seeks to contribute to improving Lebanon’s economic and social conditions and overcoming problems he said the previous Syrian regime caused, while maintaining communication with the Lebanese government on political reform and proper implementation of the Taif Agreement.

Responding to a question about the possibility of Syrian armed forces playing a role in Lebanon, al-Sharaa said Syria is preoccupied with its internal challenges and issues, while noting that any instability in Lebanon directly impacts Syria.

October 7 Events

Speaking about Israeli fears following the October 7, 2023 events, al-Sharaa said he understands the suffering of innocent victims, but rejected allowing those events to become the foundation for all Israeli policies, especially toward Syria.

He pointed out the need to also consider what happened in Gaza, noting that more than 70,000 people were killed, including large numbers of women and children.

Al-Sharaa argued that building Israel’s policy toward Syria based on October 7 events is "illogical," and, in his view, only leads to increased security threats.

He emphasized that if Israel wants to protect its security, it must respect the security of others and change its policies, which he says create problems in its surroundings under the pretext of self-defense.

He added that regional stability serves everyone’s interest, including Israelis, and contributes to their sense of safety, calling for mutual respect and the development of economic and trade relations.

September 11 Attacks

Responding to a question about his connection to the September 11 attacks, al-Sharaa denied any involvement, stating: "I was thirteen years old at the time, I knew nothing about these matters, and I had no relation to them then."

He expressed sorrow for the victims in the United States, as well as for those in the Middle East resulting from policies pursued in the region.

He added: "We are completely separate from what happened then, and from that act or attack that took place in New York."