Trump announces the plan to raise the punishment of sanctions against Syria

Riad, Saudi Arabia
Cnn
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President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he wanted to increase the sanctions in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime last year, and said that the move would “give them a chance of size”.

The removal of the sanctions is a significant victory for the Syrian government under the direction of Ahmed al-Sharaa, which conquered power after the breathtaking defeat of the Assad regime in December. The Israeli government's blow is probably regarded that escalated military and territorial progress in Syria after Assad's collapse in Syria.

Trump said in comments on a Saudi investment forum in Riad that he had made the decision after discussing the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Syria, they have had their share of travesty, war and killing for many years. That is why my government has taken the first steps to restore normal relationships between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade,” he said.

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio is expected to meet “later this week” with the Syrian Foreign Minister in Turkey, said Trump.

After decades of brutal rule, the Assad regime fell during the Biden administration in December, and the new leaders of Syria hoped that Trump would consider to raise the punitive sanctions against the country.

“The sanctions were brutal and crippled and served as important – really important function – but now it is their time to shine,” said Trump. “So I say,” good luck, Syria “. Show us something very special.”

Trump expressed hope that the new government of Syria will “hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country when coping with peace”.

The new Syrian President Al-Sharaa previously founded a militant group called Jabhat al-Nusra or “The Victory Front” in English, which promised al-Qaida loyalty. But in 2016, according to the US Center for Naval, he replaced analyzes from the terrorist group.

Trump is expected to be welcomed in informal al-Sharaa in Riad on Wednesday in Riad, an official of the White House said so far on Tuesday and the Trump government on Tuesday. The United States has not officially restored diplomatic ties or recognized the Al Sharaa government, but sources say that there was little commitment.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani welcomed the news of the US sanctions.

“We see the lifting of sanctions as a fresh start on the way to reconstruction,” he wrote to X.

The special representative of the United Nations for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also welcomed the announcement and said that the lifting of sanctions was essential to enable the provision of significant services such as health care and education and to revive the economy.

The US parade comes after the United Kingdom and the European Union at the beginning of this year some, but not all of its sanctions against Syria.

On the Capitol Hill, the top senators of the Senate Committee for external relationships – the Republican Jim Risch and the democrat Jeanne Shaheen – had encouraged the move before Trump's trip. In a statement on Tuesday, Shaheen said that she was “encouraged by the president's announcement to move quickly, and I am in contact with the Foreign Ministry and the NSC to ensure that this long -awaited time window does not close for Syria.”

The Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, offered a reserved answer.

“I am very inclined to support the sanctions for Syria under the right conditions. However, we have to remember that the current leadership in Syria has reached its position through weapon power, not through the will of their people,” said South Carolina's legislator.

Graham, who said in a press release that he had just arrived in Turkey, found that he was “in close contact with Israel because they are extremely concerned about the state of the game in Syria”.

“During this trip I will discuss this matter with our allies in Turkey and maintain an extremely close coordination with our allies in Israel so that we can fully understand the effects of sanctions exceptions,” he said.

In the meantime, social media videos showed cheering crowds in the main square of the city of Homs. People were seen with Syrian and Saudi -Arabic flags when the crowd sang: “Hail Saudi Arabia, hail Saudi -Arabia! Hail Salman, hail Salman!” In obvious reference to the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud. Another video from the city showed great crowds outside when the fireworks shone the night sky above us.

“As a revolutionary Syrian, it is our last goal to rebuild our country,” said Oaid Basha, who celebrated in Homs.

He thanked the USA and said that Trump's announcement marked “the first step towards recovery to restore Syria in his former state – or even better”.

“One of the main goals of the revolution – the regime – has already been reached,” he told CNN. “Now the focus must be on driving the country.”

A video from the city of Latakia showed cars and motorcycles down the street and honked their horns when their passengers whitened Syrian flags.

The economy and the country's commercial minister, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, shed the tears in the air with Saudi Outlet Al Arabiya when he underlined that Syria is “now entering a new phase”.

“Syria's revival will begin. We are approaching an economic renaissance now that the international community has reopened its doors for us,” he said in tears and emphasized that the new government and the country's investors are ready.

“The Syrian people will soon enjoy an unprecedented degree of relief and comfort,” he called.

Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Middle East Program, said CNN that in addition to the announcement that marks a victory for al-Sharaa, it was also a victory for the Saudi crown prince.

“(Trump) says this publicly to assure others that they have the tacit consent of a better chance of giving Syria a better chance, and so the look of it is a big deal,” said Hall. “Well, even if this also comes in a kind of public meeting between Al-Sharaa and Trump or even a secret meeting, this means that the United States clearly take steps in a direction to give Syria the chance to reconcile it.”

Al-Shaar said Al Arabiya, he expects the effects of the sanctions to be lifted as soon as the country is reintroduced into Swift, a messaging service that connects financial institutions around the world.

“The funds are initially incorporated by Syrians abroad, followed by supporting countries. The bikes of the economy will turn around, and the promise of commercial and investment will be submitted because the landscape is now open to investments,” he said. The minister said that the “Weg is clear now” for everyone who wants to invest in Syria, and that this in turn would offer the citizens of the country financial relief.

This story has been updated with additional details.

Correction: This story was corrected to reflect on the crowds that celebrated the US lifting of sanctions against Syria, the Saudi king cheered.

CNNS Eyad Kourdi and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.