Syrian interim president thanks Saudi Crown Prince for US sanctions relief “It is a New Chapter in Syrian Recovery”

Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has expressed gratitude to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his efforts in securing the lifting of US sanctions on Syria, following a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh.

In a statement issued on May 14, al-Sharaa said Trump’s decision to lift the sanctions would contribute to security and stability in Syria, and pave the way for a new chapter focused on reconstruction, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the meeting between al-Sharaa and Trump included discussions on combating terrorism and eliminating foreign militias operating in Syria. The talks also reportedly addressed the fight against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani hailed the meeting as a "milestone achievement for the Syrian people".

The White House later stated that al-Sharaa had invited American companies to invest in Syria’s oil and gas sector. It also noted that President Trump had requested Syria’s assistance in preventing the resurgence of ISIS and assuming responsibility for detention centres currently holding ISIS fighters.

The development marks a significant shift in US-Syria relations. Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Washington, alongside the broader international community, imposed sweeping sanctions on the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Although parts of these sanctions were later suspended by the United States and the European Union, they were never fully lifted until now.

By Aghakazim Guliyev