Trump announces lifting sanctions on Syria ahead of a brief meeting with the transitional Syrian president in Riyadh on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Gulf-US summit
US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, a move sought by the transitional Syrian president, whom he intends to meet in Riyadh.
“Iطll order the lifting of sanctions on Syria to give them an opportunity to grow,” Trump said during a speech in the Saudi capital, to warm applause.
Trump plans to meet briefly with Syrian transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday.
“The president agreed to greet the Syrian president while he is in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,” the US official said on condition of anonymity.
The National newspaper, citing sources, revealed that Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa will travel to Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Gulf-US summit.
A source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry, who requested anonymity, told The National that Saudi officials proposed a 45-minute meeting between Trump and Sharaa.
The diplomat added that Trump agreed to give al Sharaa time to listen.
The United States hasn’t yet confirmed the meeting between them.
Another Syrian Foreign Ministry official acknowledged that Saudi Arabia had taken the lead in mediating relations between the United States and Syria, saying that the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders, if it took place, would depend on the Saudis.
Such a meeting would signal a major shift in US policy toward Syria. Relations between the two countries have been largely hostile for more than 50 years under the Assad family.
A Syrian Foreign Ministry source told The National, “Lifting sanctions will be a priority in al Sharaa’s discussions”.
Before arriving in Saudi Arabia at the start of a regional tour, the US president indicated that he is considering easing sanctions on Syria as the new authorities seek to rebuild the country after more than a decade of civil war.
Trump said, “We’ll have to make a decision about sanctions, and we may lift them soon… We may lift them on Syria because we want to give them a fresh start”.
Syria issued a statement welcoming Trump’s remarks, calling them an encouraging step toward alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.
The United States indicated that it would wait to see how the new Syrian authorities exercise their authority and ensure human rights before lifting sanctions, opting instead for specific, temporary exemptions.
The new Syrian authorities are pushing for the lifting of US and European sanctions, claiming they were imposed on the Assad regime.
