Syrian leader meets US politicians

Al-Assad also spoke of “the necessity to remove obstacles that hinder relations and to promote stability in the Middle East”.

US-Syrian relations have deteriorated following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, in 2005, which many blame on Syria. Damascus denies such allegations.

The US withdrew its ambassador to Syria after al-Hariri’s murder.

However, Obama has encouraged good relations with Damascus, with Jeffery Feltman, Washington’s foremost Middle East envoy, visiting the country in March.

Feltman’s visit was the first high-level US trip in four years.