Syria Hails Trump’s Move to Lift U.S. Sanctions

(MENAFN) Syria has warmly embraced a major executive decision by U.S. President Donald Trump, signed on Monday, which removes most American sanctions from the country. The Syrian government hailed this as a historic shift, with potential to drive national recovery and reintegrate Syria into the global community.

“We welcome the lifting of the majority of sanctions imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic under the historic executive decision signed by President Trump,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in a post on X.

Shaibani characterized the move as “a significant turning point,” emphasizing its potential to guide Syria into a new era of prosperity, stability, and openness to international engagement.

“With this major barrier to economic recovery removed, long-awaited doors to reconstruction and development are now open,” he added. This, according to Shaibani, will enable the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure and create favorable conditions for the safe and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their homeland.

In a statement, the White House confirmed that Trump had signed an executive order ending the U.S. sanctions program on Syria.

“The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors,” Trump stated in the official order, shared on X by the Trump 47 White House Rapid Response account.

Earlier, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained to reporters that the move was aimed at assisting Syria’s “path to stability and peace.”

The decision follows Trump’s announcement at an investment forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, where he vowed to lift the “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria. Just a day after, Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in what marked the first such meeting between U.S. and Syrian leaders in 25 years.

The meeting followed the departure of Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia on December 8, 2024, effectively ending the Baath Party’s rule, which had lasted for over 60 years. Al-Sharaa, who led the anti-regime forces that ousted Assad, assumed the role of president for a transitional period at the end of January.

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