US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of all sanctions on Syria. He said the decision was made together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speaking at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia, Trump called the sanctions “cruel and obstructive,” adding, “Now is the time for them to shine.”
Trump said this move is the first step toward restoring diplomatic relations with Syria’s new administration.
He also confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on May 15.
Rubio is also expected to meet Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan Sheybani in Türkiye this week. It will be the first high-level US-Syria meeting in years.
Trump praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts, saying the talks “would not have reached this point” without Ankara’s role.