Trump considers lifting Syria sanctions amid Tower proposal
The US President, Donald Trump, stated on Monday that he may soon lift sanctions against Syria to provide the country, which is currently led by a former jihadist, a "fresh start." According to Reuters, Syria's interim president, Ahmad as-Shara, has suggested constructing a Trump Tower skyscraper in Damascus.
During a press conference before leaving for a trip to Saudi Arabia, the President of the United States mentioned that he had discussed Syria with the Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, and suggested that he might announce the lifting of long-standing sanctions.
"We have to make a decision on the sanctions, which we may very well relieve," said Trump.
"We're going to have to make a decision on the sanctions, which we may very well relieve. We may take them off of Syria because we want to give them a fresh start. But President Erdogan has asked me about that, many people have asked me about that," he added.
Construction of Trump Tower
The new Syrian authorities, including interim president Ahmad as-Shara, a former leader of a jihadist group of Syrian rebels, have been urging for these restrictions to be lifted for months. As Reuters reports, during a recent meeting with American right-wing activist Jonathan Bass, Shara proposed the construction of Trump Tower, cooperation against Iran, or reshaping relations with Israel.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, also supported lifting sanctions on Syria during the Syrian leader's visit to Paris.
According to the agency, it is not impossible that Trump and as-Shara will meet on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, where Trump has embarked on his first planned foreign trip.
Sanctions on Syria
American sanctions on Syria have been in place since 1979 when the regime of Hafez al-Assad was designated as supporting terrorism. Since then, additional restrictions were implemented in 2004 and after the onset of the Syrian civil war. Despite the overthrow of the previous regime by rebels, only some restrictions have been lifted so far. Ahmad as-Shara himself, who was previously deemed a terrorist, was removed from the sanctions list during Joe Biden's administration.
Some officials in the Trump administration have opposed easing the sanctions due to the background of Syria's new president. Publicly, Vice President J.D. Vance recommended caution in this matter. Additional conditions necessary for lifting the sanctions, including removing foreign fighters from positions in the army, have recently been suggested by diplomats from the State Department and the Treasury Department.
