Amanpour – Interview with Syrian Interim President Ahmed Al Sharah

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Christiane Amanpour (CNN International)
Main Guest: Ahmed Al Sharah, Interim President of Syria

Episode Overview

This episode’s central focus is a rare and in-depth interview with Ahmed Al Sharah, Syria’s interim president, at the Doha Forum, one year after the fall of Bashar Al Assad. Host Christiane Amanpour explores whether Syria has truly entered a new phase—addressing international reintegration, regional security (particularly involving Israel), internal unity and minority rights, post-war justice, prospects for democracy, and Al Sharah’s controversial past. The episode also features a follow-up discussion on Ukraine’s diplomatic struggles and a critical look at the shakeup in U.S. public health policy, but the core is the probing Syria interview.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Syria’s International Reintegration and Economic Outlook

• Rebuilding Relations:
  • Al Sharah asserts that Syria has moved decisively from “extreme isolation” under Assad to renewed legitimacy with international and regional actors.
  • “[Syria] went from being a country that exported crises to a country where we have an actual hope of delivering stability and being a living model for regional stability in the region...” (Al Sharah, 04:51)
• Trust-Building:
  • He emphasizes pledges kept since taking power, arguing it’s fostered trust among nations and investors.
  • “We have gone beyond the rapprochement phase ... and we have regained our regional and international status, which is quite significant.” (04:15)
• Economic Recovery:
  • Cites improvement of infrastructure (e.g., electricity going from 1.5 to up to 14 hours/day), with promises of self-sufficiency; vows continued attract investment and growth.
  • The lifting of U.S. sanctions (Caesar Act) is “at 95%” per Al Sharah, stating the Trump administration supports removal. (13:53)

2. Security, Israel, and Regional Dynamics

• Israel’s Role & Peace Prospects:
  • Al Sharah accuses Israel of exporting its own crises, deflecting attention from Gaza, and carrying out over 1,000 airstrikes and 400 incursions into Syria since Assad’s fall.
    • “Israel has become a country that is in a fight against ghosts. They justify everything using their security concerns...” (06:21)
    • “Syria has suffered massive violations of our airspace ... we are not concerned in being a country that exports conflict, including to Israel.” (06:51 & 00:07 intro)
  • Calls for a return to the “pre-December 8 lines” and upholding the 1974 disengagement agreement as the safest and most “logical” path for all.
    • “Messing with this agreement … attempting to seek other agreements such as a buffer zone...will send us into a serious and dangerous place.” (07:24)
• Buffer Zone Proposal:
  • Questions Israel’s demand for a demilitarized corridor, asking which force would provide security if not Syrian forces. U.S. is involved in negotiations; regional/international consensus is for “logical and reasonable security concerns.” (08:17)

3. Internal Cohesion, Minorities, and Transitional Justice

• Challenges with Minorities:
  • Acknowledges persistent fears and grievances, especially after recent violence against Alawites and Druze (UN calls some incidents “possible war crimes”).
• Reconciliation Efforts:
  • Al Sharah disputes the narrative of endemic fear, pointing to spontaneous celebrations and participation across communities.
    • “Are those people afraid? On the contrary, I believe Syria is living through its best days.” (10:34)
  • Insists efforts at inclusion: national dialogue, government participation across factions, widespread pardons, and “calming the situation.”
    • “Syria has moved from a one regime to another that does not resemble it at all following the success of a popular revolution.” (12:27)
    • Justice to be delivered for recent abuses: “...holding those who caused them and who perpetrated them accountable.” (12:44)
• Participatory Governance not Sectarianism:
  • Rejects quota-based power-sharing along sectarian lines.
  • “It is not healthy to divide authorities among different religions and sects...governments and authorities should be formed by experts, by technocrats, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.” (17:50)

4. Prospects for Democracy & Al Sharah’s Future

• Elections & Institutions:
  • Affirms commitment to “the principle of people choosing their leaders” as fundamental and aligned with Islam.
    • “This is what we believe in. Syria should not be...linked to people or individuals, but rather institutions.” (20:09)
• Transition Timetable:
  • Constitution to be drafted and presented within current interim president’s 5-year mandate, started after Damascus’ “liberation.” Elections set to follow within four years. (22:23)
    • “So I would say in five years ... there’s already one year that’s gone. So we still have four years.” (23:07)

5. Al Sharah’s Militancy and Women’s Rights

• Addressing Militant Past:
  • Christiane Amanpour directly asks about Al Sharah’s history as “Abu Mohammed Al Jolani,” former Al Qaeda affiliate.
    • Al Sharah calls use of “terrorist” label “politicized,” insisting he never harmed civilians, always “fought with honor,” and is exonerated internationally.
      • “Terrorists, in my opinion, are those that kill innocent people ... I have never harmed. I fought on several fronts and I fought for more than 20 years. With honor.” (24:37–26:24)
      • Cites minimal bloodshed during the Damascus offensive as evidence: “Have you ever seen a terrorist that prepares a plan for 11 days ... without one person being harmed?” (26:42)
• Women’s Empowerment:
  • Stresses high rates of women’s university participation (67% in Idlib’s university), their role in government and as civil servants.
    • “I believe Syrian women are empowered. Their rights are protected and guaranteed, and we constantly try to ensure...full participation...” (28:13)
    • “You should not fear for Syrian women, fear for Syrian men.” (28:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Syria’s role shift:

  • “We went from being a country that exported crises to a country where we have an actual hope of delivering stability and being a living model for regional stability.”
    — Ahmed Al Sharah (04:51)

• On post-Assad reconciliation:

  • “...the law is the only way to preserve everybody’s rights...I think this is very healthy, maybe Syria is proving once again that it is going in the right path. Maybe others will learn from us how to deal with crises and wars, the aftermath of them.”
    — Ahmed Al Sharah (17:15, 17:59)

• On readiness for democracy:

  • “This is a challenge for the four or five years to come because we are rebuilding the country... Syria will move forward on this path and it is a healthy and good path.”
    — Ahmed Al Sharah (21:00)

• Direct on terror accusations:

  • “Saying that I was a terrorist and judging me as a terrorist is politicized... Terrorists, in my opinion, are those that kill innocent people...”
    — Ahmed Al Sharah (24:18, 24:37)

• Women’s rights jab:

  • “You should not fear for Syrian women, fear for Syrian men.”
    — Ahmed Al Sharah (28:51)

• Christiane Amanpour’s skepticism on potential “triumphalism”:

  • “I just wonder whether there’s a sense of triumphalism maybe among Sunni Muslims in Syria and whether you think that you really can knit the country together... in terms of law, order, rights...”
    — Christiane Amanpour (15:36)

Important Timestamps

• [02:37] – Start of the Amanpour/Al Sharah interview
• [03:35] – Al Sharah on international reintegration
• [06:05] – Israel’s objectives and Syria’s security policy
• [09:11] – Internal fragmentation and unity challenges
• [12:24] – Addressing opposition, moving beyond regime supporters
• [15:47] – On minority violence, law, and inclusivity
• [19:41] – Amanpour presses on democracy and power transitions
• [22:23] – Timeline for elections and constitution
• [23:12] – Amanpour confronts Al Sharah over past “terrorist” label
• [28:00] – Women’s rights and social progress

Tone and Language Highlights

The conversation is probing yet diplomatic, with Christiane Amanpour pressing for frank answers and pushing back on official narratives, while President Al Sharah is formal, occasionally defensive, and at times self-assured, keen to showcase a forward-looking, inclusive Syria but wary of Western skepticism.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode provides deep insight into how Syria’s new leadership wants to be perceived one year after Assad, the complex journey of postwar reconciliation, urgent regional threats, emerging economic optimism, and delicate steps toward building democratic institutions. Amanpour’s tough questioning on minority protection, genuine democracy, and Al Sharah’s militant background give context and challenge, creating a rare window onto Syria’s pivotal crossroads under its most controversial new leader.