US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of all sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a huge boost for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he seeks to stabilize a country shattered by war.
Trump made the surprise announcement during a regional tour that began in Saudi Arabia.
Syria’s foreign minister said that Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria was a “pivotal turning point” for the country.
Speaking to Syrian state news agency SANA, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said he welcomed Trump’s announcement, calling it a “pivotal turning point for the Syrian people, as we move towards a future of stability, self-sufficiency and genuine reconstruction after years of destructive war.”
A White House official told Al Arabiya English that Trump has agreed to say hello to al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Two sources from the Syrian presidency said al-Sharaa would travel to Riyadh to meet Trump.
The United States imposed tough sanctions on Syria during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, and had kept them in place since he was toppled from power in December after more than 13 years of war.
Saudi Arabia has been a leading voice calling for the sanctions to be lifted.
Trump said he would remove all sanctions against Syria, saying they had served an important function, but it was now time for Syria to move forward.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump told an investment forum in Riyadh.
“It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump said, “Good luck Syria, show us something very special.”
Trump also said US Secretary of State Marco will meet his Syrian counterpart, al-Shaibani, later this week.
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