Trump to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Paving Way for Recovery -

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May 14, 2025 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to lift sanctions on Syria after the fall of the Assad regime last year. He believes this move will give Syria a chance to succeed.

The lifting of sanctions is a big win for the Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the Assad regime was defeated in December. This move will infuriate the Israeli government, which has been increasing military involvement in Syria since Assad’s downfall.

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The president made this statement at a Saudi investment conference in Riyadh. He said he took the action after consulting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Trump indicated that Syria has endured too much war and violence, and that the United States is now moving to reinstate normal relations with Syria for the first time in more than a decade.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will soon meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey.
Trump indicated that Syria has endured too much war and violence, and that the United States is now moving to reinstate normal relations with Syria for the first time in more than a decade.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will soon meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey.

Syria’s new leaders, after the fall of the Assad regime during the Biden administration, had hoped Trump would lift the harsh sanctions. Trump explained that while the sanctions were important at the time, it’s now Syria’s time to recover. He wished the country good luck and hoped their new government would succeed in bringing peace and stability.

Al-Sharaa, the new president of Syria, once led a militant group that was linked to al-Qaeda but separated from them in 2016.

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Trump is expected to meet al-Sharaa informally in Riyadh, marking the highest-level interaction between the new Syrian government and the Trump administration so far. The U.S. hasn’t yet formally recognized the al-Sharaa government or restored diplomatic ties, but there have been some lower-level talks.

Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, welcomed the lifting of sanctions, calling it a new beginning for the country’s recovery, with help from their Arab allies, especially Saudi Arabia.

The United Nations’ special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also welcomed the decision, saying that lifting the sanctions is important to allow the delivery of essential services like healthcare and education and to revive Syria’s economy.

The U.S. move follows the United Kingdom and European Union lifting some sanctions earlier this year.

Some U.S. senators, like Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen, had supported this decision before Trump’s trip. Shaheen expressed hope that this opportunity for Syria’s recovery doesn’t end soon.

However, Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, was more cautious. He said that while he supports lifting sanctions under the right conditions, Syria’s leadership came to power through force, not the will of the people. Graham, who is currently in Turkey, also mentioned that he is in close contact with Israel, which is concerned about the situation in Syria. He plans to discuss the matter with Turkey and Israel during his trip.

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