US officials raised the need to prevent Iran's resurgence in Syria during talks with interim authorities in Damascus, according to the US Embassy in Syria.

The discussions also addressed maintaining the fight against ISIS, protecting US citizens, and investigating the fate of disappeared Americans, while emphasizing an inclusive political process that represents all Syrians.

Syria’s new de-facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, expressed hope that Tehran would scale back its military intervention in the region in an interview with Al-Arabiya over the weekend.

The new leader, a former member of Al Qaeda, has made no secret of his pleasure at reducing the influence of Iran in Syria, saying that since the fall of Assad, Syria's opposition had “set the Iranian project in the region back by 40 years”.

Last week, the Arab League bloc of nations called on Iran not to sow discord in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, a long-time ally of Tehran.