US Lifts Sanctions on Syria Following Trump’s Commitment
In a significant political move, President Trump granted approval on Monday to lift long-standing US sanctions on Syria, fulfilling a promise he made during his visit to Saudi Arabia last month.
During their meeting on May 14, Trump, 79, explained to 42-year-old Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara that the sanctions relief was aimed at providing the Damascus government an opportunity to rebuild and reconnect with international banks and trade after 14 years of civil conflict.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce shared details of the announcement with reporters, stating, “Intergovernmental teams, including the State Department, Treasury, and Commerce Department, are actively implementing the bold vision for a stable, secure, and peaceful Syrian president.”
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified that former President Bashar al-Assad, now residing in exile in Russia, would still be subject to sanctions. The US sanctions also affect Assad’s associates, human rights violators, drug traffickers, and those involved in chemical weapons activities or connected to ISIS and its affiliates.
Trump had previously indicated the impending sanctions relief during his address in Riyadh just before his meeting with Al-Shara. The President expressed optimism about lifting sanctions against the Syrian government. In fact, he commended his “young and attractive” counterpart and noted that Al-Shara had agreed to consider establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
“A tough guy. A strong past. A very strong past. A fighter,” Trump remarked about Al-Shara at the time. Trump also mentioned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s favorable relationship with Al-Shara, suggesting that this connection could help stabilize the situation in Syria. He expressed a belief that Al-Shara had a real opportunity to lead effectively in a country deeply torn by conflict.
Born in Riyadh to a Syrian businessman and raised in Damascus, Al-Shara’s past includes fighting against US forces as part of Iraq’s al-Qaeda beginning in 2003. Recently, he has attempted to rebrand himself as a supporter of Syria’s religious diversity, despite the continued violence against members of the Alawite minority and Druze supporters in the region.
