Syria welcomes Trump’s sanctions relief as a historic step

Thursday 15 May 2025 - 09:32

By: Zahouani Ilham

Syria welcomes Trump’s sanctions relief as a historic step

Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa praised US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria, calling it both bold and historic. In a televised speech, Sharaa described the move as a vital step toward easing the suffering of Syrians, fostering national recovery, and promoting regional stability.

This announcement marks a significant shift for Syria, which has endured years of conflict and hardship under sanctions mainly imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Trump’s meeting with Sharaa in Riyadh was notable, as it was the first time in 25 years that a US president engaged directly with a Syrian leader. During their meeting, Trump encouraged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel.

Sharaa also expressed gratitude to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who facilitated the meeting, and to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an important supporter of the new Syrian administration.

Highlighting the ongoing challenges ahead, Sharaa emphasized that the rebuilding of modern Syria begins now. Since the civil war began in 2011, the country has suffered immense losses, including hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.

While the US is easing sanctions, Trump did not indicate plans to remove Syria from its terrorism blacklist, which has been in place since 1979 due to Syria’s support for Palestinian militants. This designation continues to restrict foreign investment and reconstruction efforts.