US plans to lift sanctions on Syria, says Trump

KABUL (Pajhwok): In the wake of last year’s ouster of the Bashar Al Assad government, the US says it plans to lift sanctions on Syria, reports CNN.

President Donald Trump’s announcement is seen as a major win for the incumbent Syrian administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump said he took the decision after discussing it Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He added: “Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years. That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the US and Syria for the first time in more than a decade.”

Later in the week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio might meet his Syrian counterpart in Turkey, Trump continued.

The US leader believed the sanctions were crippling and served as an important function at the time. “But now it’s their time to shine. So, I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special.”

The broadcaster quoted a White House official as saying that Trump was likely to informally greet al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday (today).

Earlier in the year, the United Kingdom and European Union removed some of their sanctions on Syria, whose current foreign minister welcomed the US move on Tuesday.

PAN Monitor/mud