Syria
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (center) and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (right) meet with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (left) in Istanbul on May 24, 2025. Photo: SANA
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with US special envoy Tom Barrack in Istanbul on Saturday after Washington lifted sanctions on Damascus, to discuss a host of topics including investment opportunities and joint security cooperation.
“The meeting focused on discussing several vital issues, most notably the follow-up to the lifting of US sanctions on Syria,” the Syrian presidency said on Sunday, adding that Sharaa told Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, that “sanctions continue to impose a heavy burden on the Syrian people and hinder economic recovery.”
Barrack told Sharaa that Washington has already begun easing sanctions in accordance with President Donald Trump’s decision and that the “full and comprehensive lifting of sanctions” will be conducted.
The Syrian presidency described the meeting, which also included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, as “part of the new Syrian government’s efforts to build strategic relations with the United States.”
The meeting discussed foreign investment in Syria, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and ways to enhance joint security cooperation, according to the presidency.
The implementation of the March 10 agreement between Sharaa and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was also stressed.
“The two sides emphasized the need to implement a comprehensive agreement with the SDF that guarantees the return of the Syrian government’s sovereignty over all Syrian territory, while also discussing mechanisms to integrate these forces into state institutions,” the statement said.
Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark agreement on March 10 to integrate the SDF into the state apparatus. The agreement recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns.
In a statement on X, Barrack said that he highlighted American support for Damascus and “reiterated Secretary Rubio’s position that if we had not acted so promptly and deliberately to remove sanctions our partners in the region would not be able to provide donor dollars, supplies, and energy to relieve the plight and trauma of the traumatized Syrian population.”
He stated that the removal of sanctions will contribute positively to the enduring defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), Washington’s main objective in the region.
“I also commended President al-Sharaa on taking meaningful steps towards enacting President Trump’s points on foreign terrorist fighters, counter-ISIS measures, relations with Israel, and camps and detention centers in NE Syria,” Barrack said.
During a trip to the Middle East last week, Trump announced his decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The next day, Trump met with Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, expel all “foreign terrorists” from Syria, and cooperate with the US to prevent an Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence, according to a White House statement.
On Friday, the US Treasury issued the Syria General License (GL) 25 to effectively lift all sanctions.
“GL 25 will enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with the President’s America First strategy,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.
The sanctions relief was granted on “the understanding that the country will not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and will ensure the security of its religious and ethnic minorities,” the Treasury added.
Since taking office in January after toppling the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership in Damascus has made lifting international sanctions a top priority. While several countries have expressed openness to removing Assad-era restrictions, they have emphasized the need for the new leadership to meet critical benchmarks such as inclusive governance and fighting terrorism.
“The meeting focused on discussing several vital issues, most notably the follow-up to the lifting of US sanctions on Syria,” the Syrian presidency said on Sunday, adding that Sharaa told Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, that “sanctions continue to impose a heavy burden on the Syrian people and hinder economic recovery.”
Barrack told Sharaa that Washington has already begun easing sanctions in accordance with President Donald Trump’s decision and that the “full and comprehensive lifting of sanctions” will be conducted.
The Syrian presidency described the meeting, which also included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, as “part of the new Syrian government’s efforts to build strategic relations with the United States.”
The meeting discussed foreign investment in Syria, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and ways to enhance joint security cooperation, according to the presidency.
The implementation of the March 10 agreement between Sharaa and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was also stressed.
“The two sides emphasized the need to implement a comprehensive agreement with the SDF that guarantees the return of the Syrian government’s sovereignty over all Syrian territory, while also discussing mechanisms to integrate these forces into state institutions,” the statement said.
Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark agreement on March 10 to integrate the SDF into the state apparatus. The agreement recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns.
In a statement on X, Barrack said that he highlighted American support for Damascus and “reiterated Secretary Rubio’s position that if we had not acted so promptly and deliberately to remove sanctions our partners in the region would not be able to provide donor dollars, supplies, and energy to relieve the plight and trauma of the traumatized Syrian population.”
He stated that the removal of sanctions will contribute positively to the enduring defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), Washington’s main objective in the region.
“I also commended President al-Sharaa on taking meaningful steps towards enacting President Trump’s points on foreign terrorist fighters, counter-ISIS measures, relations with Israel, and camps and detention centers in NE Syria,” Barrack said.
During a trip to the Middle East last week, Trump announced his decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The next day, Trump met with Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, expel all “foreign terrorists” from Syria, and cooperate with the US to prevent an Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence, according to a White House statement.
On Friday, the US Treasury issued the Syria General License (GL) 25 to effectively lift all sanctions.
“GL 25 will enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with the President’s America First strategy,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.
The sanctions relief was granted on “the understanding that the country will not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and will ensure the security of its religious and ethnic minorities,” the Treasury added.
Since taking office in January after toppling the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership in Damascus has made lifting international sanctions a top priority. While several countries have expressed openness to removing Assad-era restrictions, they have emphasized the need for the new leadership to meet critical benchmarks such as inclusive governance and fighting terrorism.
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