Trump administration official meets with Syrian president as U.S. eases sanctions

Thomas Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Syria, met Saturday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharra one day after the Trump administration officially began dismantling sanctions on the war-torn Middle Eastern Country.

In a statement, Mr. Barrack said the “historic” meeting occurred at the direction of President Trump and discussions focused on ways to enable Syria’s new government to create conditions for the Syrian people to “not only survive but thrive.” 

“I stressed the cessation of sanctions against Syria will preserve the integrity of our primary objective – the enduring defeat of ISIS – and will give the people of Syria a chance for a better future,” Mr. Barrack said. 

He said Syrian officials confirmed their commitment to working with the U.S. to develop private sector investment in the country, including investments by regional and global partners, including Turkey, Gulf nations, Europe and the U.S. 

The meeting occurred one day after the Trump administration formally announced it would ease sanctions against Syria, making good on Mr. Trump’s promise to dismantle the harsh penalties against the country already ravaged by years of civil war. 

The Treasury Department confirmed the move, saying it issued Syria a General License 25, which authorizes transactions with the country’s new government, headed by Mr. al-Sharaa. A GL 25 will allow for investment and private sector activity, removing the sanctions imposed during ex-Syrian President Bashar Assad’s rule. 

Mr. Assad was driven out of office by Syrian rebels last year.

Mr. Trump pledged earlier this month during his multi-stop trip to the Middle East that he would lift sanctions against Syria. He noted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocated for the sanctions to be lifted.

During the Middle East trip last week, Mr. Trump met with Mr. al-Sharra and encouraged him to remove Palestinian and Syrian terrorists and help prevent the Islamic State from resurging. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that Syria has worked to become a “stable” nation and that lifting sanctions will “hopefully put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.”